Strasbourg in France
Strasbourg is a beautiful city in the heart of the region Alsace. The proximity to Germany is an advantage for the area. Strasbourg is the capital province of Alsace. The regional council has its seat here. The regional prefect and the prefecture rule from here and meet in Strasbourg. As the largest city in Alsace, Strasbourg is also very popular with tourists. Around 640,000 people live here.
International and European institutions operate from Strasbourg. Among other things, the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Ombudsman, Eurocorps and many other institutions are located here. Strasbourg is often referred to as the capital of Europe, which is due to the large number of politically important institutions that are located here.
The history of Strasbourg
The Roman emperor Tiberius and his brother, the general Drusus, founded in the 12th century BC. A military outpost, which is in the later Germania Superior found. They called this Argentoratum. There was also a Gallic settlement nearby. It is generally known today about the settlement of the region that people must have lived here around 700,000 years ago.
The Romans were hardworking road builders and around 74 a road led from Augusta Vindelicorum, today’s Augsburg, through the Kinzig valley to Argentoratum, i.e. today’s Strasbourg.
The center of the original city of Strasbourg, like the present one, was on the Illinois Island.
At the time of Roman rule, an approximately 20 hectare camp of the cavalry department was built in what is now the Legion of Strasbourg. Some other legions were only temporarily stationed here and then moved on to their actual destination. There was also a legion under Nero’s leadership that stopped here. Systematic excavations
were carried out between 1947 and 1953. The remains of historic Strasbourg were found. Interesting insights could be gained from this. Due to the war, many parts of the old town were already exposed, so the system could continue to work here. It was found that the original city was more like a camp and that it burned down several times between the 1st and 5th centuries. It is believed to have been on fire at least six times and then rebuilt. Furthermore, the extensive excavations showed that there must have been Roman civil settlements along the former Roman road. Numerous remains from the time were found here, which indicate a close and quite extensive settlement.
Strasbourg was declared a bishopric very early on. It has existed here since the 4th century. During archaeological excavations in 1956, the remains of a church from that time were found. Today it is believed that this was the oldest church in Alsace.
The excavations and many segments of the original city of Strasbourg are in the museum today to visit.
Another sight to be admired is the Strasbourg Cathedral. In the years from 1399 to 1439 the tower was placed on the west facade of the existing minster. Until 1874, the tower was considered the tallest building in the world. Today it is still one of the tallest church towers in the world.
