Sightseeing in Strasbourg, France

When I visited Brussels, Belgium, one of the seat of European Union Parliament, I was at the same time thinking to visit Strasbourg in France. I am happy that it did came true. We had a trip there last December 2010 to see and experience especially their famous Christmas market.

Straßburg or Strassburg (in German), called in English as Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in north-eastern France. I found this historical city very charming and interesting. It is located near the border of Germany.

view of the historical Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany, across from the German town Kehl.

Strasbourg's historic city centre, the Grande Île ("Grand Island"), was classified a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city centre. Strasbourg is fused into the Franco-German culture and although violently disputed throughout history, has been a bridge of unity between France and Germany for centuries, especially through the University of Strasbourg, currently the largest in France, and the co-existence of Catholic and Protestant culture.