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Strasbourg

1 - In German, this city is called Straßburg; in French, Strasbourg. It is in France, in the northeast of the country, near the border with Germany. About 291,000 people live in the city.

2 - Strasbourg used to belong to Germany, then to France again. Wars often played a part in this. In 1870/71, German princes waged war against France. After France’s defeat, they founded the German Empire, headed by an emperor. The regions of Alsace and Lorraine, including the major city of Strasbourg, became part of the Empire. German and French soldiers also fought each other in the First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918. Germany lost the war, the last emperor, Wilhelm II, fled to Holland, and Alsace and Lorraine returned to France. Various dialects are spoken in these regions, collectively known as Alsatian. French is the official language. Older people also speak German, which many children today learn as a foreign language.

3 - Strasbourg is an important city in Europe. Members of the European Parliament meet here or in Brussels for their sessions. The European Court of Human Rights also holds its hearings in Strasbourg. The Council of Europe is based in this city too, which likes to call itself one of the capitals of Europe.

4 - One of Strasbourg’s landmarks is the cathedral, with a tower that is 142 m tall. Inside this large church is the famous Pillar of Angels, depicting the Last Judgment, when God, according to Christian belief, will judge all people. The astronomical clock shows the movements of the Earth, the Moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. It is the only clock in the world that strikes 13 o’clock. The “La Petite France” district (Little France) is known for its canals and half-timbered houses. A large square in the city centre is named after General Jean-Baptiste Kléber.

5 - In another square stands a statue of Johannes Gutenberg. He came from Mainz and invented the printing press. the inventor of the printing press. He came to Strasbourg in 14 hundred 34 and stayed for about 10 years. He had a workshop here, where he continued to develop his invention. Many writings that spread the teachings of Martin Luther were printed in Strasbourg.

6 - The city's modern railway station is an important transport hub in Europe and one of the largest stations in France. From here, the high-speed TGV train reaches the capital, Paris, in 2 hours and 20 minutes. A train to the neighboring German city of Kehl, by contrast, takes just 11 minutes. The two cities are also connected by the Pont de l'Europe, which crosses the Rhine.