Strasbourg is a city located in the east of France, although it is not the largest city in the country, it is actually one of the most important ones in Europe. The reason for this is that the parliament of the European Union is located in the metropolis, which also happens to be the administrative capital of the Grand Est province.
Apart from that, the city is very unique for a number of other factors, such as being one of the few non-capital cities to host the headquarters of international organizations.
In this article, we will be telling you all that you need to know if you decide to travel to the magnificent city of Strasbourg, France.
Population of Strasbourg.
This eastern hub in France is currently the eighth-most populous city in all of France, in between the cities of Montpellier and Bordeaux. The metro population is estimated to be close to the 800,000 range. One of the major reasons why the metropolis has been such a popular location is due to its strategic location on the River Rhine.
The Rhine is one of the largest rivers in Europe, which flows all the way from the mountains in Switzerland to the Netherlands and Germany, where it flows out into the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, from prehistoric times, being located here has allowed for easy trade and a great source of revenue in the forms of tariffs and other forms of taxes.
The wealth generated from such activities has allowed for settlement to turn into an affluent and influential place that attracts thousands of people every single year who are looking for a better life as well as for high-paying and rewarding jobs.
History of Strasbourg.
The first records of a settlement in what is the location of the modern-day city are of a Celtic Gaulish town called Argantorati from the 5th century BC onwards. Later on, the area was conquered by the Romans who ruled it for many centuries, who used it to transport metal ores from their mining activities in the area.
In the 5th century AD, the name of the city was eventually changed to Strasbourg. The riverside hub is also a key landmark for Christianity, with many leading figures of the Christian Reformation operating out of the town.
Furthermore, throughout its history, it has been controlled by various French and German Kingdoms and Empires. Therefore, it has inherited many amazing aspects of both cultures, which we will discuss in much further detail in the section below.
Strasbourg’s Diverse Culture.
This French commune’s culture is a diverse mix of French and Germanic culture, which has naturally blended together over a thousand years of joint history. It is one of the most religiously diverse cities in France, with a large number of Catholics thanks to French influence as well as Protestants thanks to the great German influence throughout history.
Moreover, the religious plurality extends to a number of other religions such as Islam, with the metropolis being home to the largest Islamic place of worship in the whole of France. This place of worship is the Strasbourg Mosque which has a capacity of 1200 people; there is also an estimated 20 mosques in the city.
In the metropolitan center, there is also a television channel headquartered called Art, which broadcasts in both German and French. The television channel produces a lot of cultural content from both countries in order to promote close cultural links and friendly relations.
Popular Sports in Strasbourg.
By deciding to travel to the magnificent city of Strasbourg, France, you will be able to experience the high level of the professional sports team in this riverside metropolis.
The largest football club in this metropolitan area is the RCSA, which was founded in 1906 and finally became a professional football club in 1933. The football club is not the most successful team in French history; it tends to be a mid-table team, although it has spent a lot of time in Ligue 2.
Moreover, there is a basketball team known as SIG Basket, the club has won the French Championship and the French Cup twice. Additionally, there is the Etoile Noire which plays in the top hockey league in France, currently, the hockey team is ranked as one of the top 12 teams in the country.
Climate of Strasbourg.
Officially, the climate here is classed as an oceanic climate that is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature in this center of eastern France is 15.3 degrees Celsius. The temperatures tend to vary greatly throughout the year, for example, during the summer months of May, June, July, August, and also the autumn month of September the average temperature is over 20 degrees Celsius.
However, you do not have to worry about overheating if you decide to partake in your tourist journey here, on average; it rains for 114 days every single year.
Moreover, it snows for around 29 days every single year, with a number of state of the art ski slopes in and around the area of this metropolitan area that you can make use of mainly in the months of November, December, January, and February.
Architecture of Strasbourg.
If you are interested in exploring unique Western European architecture, then this is a great place to do just that. There are also a lot of longest bridges in Europe. It is an urban place where there are strict building laws that restrict and even ban the construction of skyscrapers and other tall buildings.
Instead, the preservation of traditional architecture is heavily promoted. Due to this, you will find that the city is like a time capsule of perfectly preserved buildings.
We recommend that you explore the Quartier des Tanneurs which is the old city center that also happens to be UNESCO certified.
The old center is located along the Rhine River with many old properties that come in many different colors such as pink, green and blue. This is a style that has been preserved from many centuries ago; many individuals also call this part of the metropolitan area the Venice of France.
Festivals in Strasbourg.
Many top festivals are hosted every single year that you can experience if you travel to the magnificent city of Strasbourg, France. One of those festivals is Music, which is a contemporary classical music festival that takes place every single autumn since 1982.
Moreover, there are non-classical music festivals such as the Festival des Artefacts where all kinds of contemporary music from that region of the country is exhibited every single year. Genres include rock and roll, rap, and pop.
Additionally, you have the Specter Film Festival, which is a yearly film festival that takes place in September where brand-new horror and fantasy films are premiered to both fans and professional film critics.
The locals are very proud of their local culture that promotes creativity and personal freedom, this is a key part of all of the festivals hosted here, which helps you to be yourself and make the best of your stay in this metropolis.
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