Strasbourg (France)

The link is as young and dynamic as the "City of Europe" itself. Everything started back in 1990, and the school and youth exchanges have long since become a firm institution. The art and cultural scenes have also discovered their counterparts.

In May 2003, the twin-city partnership between Dresden and Strasbourg received the "Cultural Award of the European Regions 2003" from the European Foundation for Culture. The cities are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their cooperation in 2010.

Population: 280,000

Geographical location: Eastern France, at the confluence of the Ill and the Rhine, capital of Alsace

Profile: The favourable strategic location encouraged Celts, Romans, Franks and others to settle in Strasbourg, whose name means "the town of roads". From the 10th to 18th centuries, it belonged to the Holy Roman Empire.

Nevertheless, Strasbourg gained a reputation as a very independent imperial city. It was here in 1440 that Johannes Gutenberg is said to have developed his process of book printing, the start signal for the Reformation and the golden era of the city. As the Holy Roman Empire gradually declined, Strasbourg was annexed by Louis XVI of France. In 1792, Rouget de Lisle wrote the "Marseillaise" in the Alsatian capital. From 1870 to 1918, and again from 1940 to 1944, Strasbourg belonged to Germany. In August and September 1944, the Allied forces bombed parts of the city centre. After the Second World War, Strasbourg emerged as a symbol of German-French reconciliation and became the seat of various European institutions (among them the European Parliament and the European Council).

Strasbourg is a scientific centre with important universities, a cultural city and a popular tourist destination (minster, old city). As a centre of commerce and the service industry, it is one of the most important banking cities in France and furthermore an export port. Important branches in the city are the food processing, chemicals, metalworking and construction.

Tips: Christmas market (December)

Strasbourg

Maire de la Ville de Strasbourg

Monsieur Roland Ries

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Phone 0033-3-88609090

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Postal address

Hotel de ville
67000 Strasbourg
FRANCE

Ville de Strasbourg

Service des Relations
Internationales

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Phone 0033-3-88609295
Fax 0033-3-88609292
Website Strasbourg

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Postal address

1 place de l'Etoile
F-67070 Strasbourg Cedex