About Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France. It's the seat of the European Parliament and sits near the German border, with culture and architecture blending German and French influences. It's known for its Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame, featuring daily shows from its astronomical clock and sweeping views of the Rhine River from partway up its 141m spire. 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 honour was placed on an entire city centre. Strasbourg is immersed in the Franco-German culture and although violently disputed throughout history, has been a bridge of unity between France and Germany for centuries. In 2006, the city proper had 171,975 inhabitants and its urban community 467,375 inhabitants. In spite of its position far inland, Strasbourg's climate is classified as Oceanic. For a city of comparatively small size, Strasbourg displays a large quantity and variety of museums, it also has many historical buildings of beauty and importance.