Etymology

Strasbourg, Strossburi in Alsatian, Straßburg in German, is over 2000 years old. Founded by the Romans in the year 12 BC, the city was first a military camp protecting the northern border of the Empire against “Barbarian” incursions. A monument, the Janus Aqueduct, designed in 1988 by the illustrator Tomi Ungerer as a tribute to his native city, symbolizes the bi-millennium whilst emphasizing the profoundly bi-cultural dimension, both Latin and Germanic, of Strasbourg.

Strasbourg was associated from the outset with the colour silver, in reference to the water: the Romans named it Argentoratum, which no doubt came from the Gaulish word for “river fortress”. Built five kilometres from the Rhine, on its left bank, the river Ill runs through its centre and numerous tributaries, streams and canals through its outskirts (the Bruche, the Aar, the Ehn, the Rhin Tortu, the Ziegelwasser, the Marne-Rhine Canal, the Rhine-Rhône Canal). The names of some of the city’s neighbourhoods (Elsau, Krutenau, Meinau, Robertsau etc.) still bear witness to the presence of the flood plains (Au) which surrounded the city in the past. The city is also situated on the one the largest reserves of drinking water in Europe, whilst the water table is barely below the surface.

Where there is water, there will be islands, and the most well-known one in Strasbourg, the Grande-île, is home to the historic centre of the city: its architectural ensemble has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

Destroyed in the 5th century, the city rose from its ashes under the name of Strateburg, of which Strasbourg is a Germanic variant meaning “the fortified town” (die Burg) on “the road” (die Straße). At the crossroads of the north-south river route and an east-west overland route, Strasbourg constitutes the point where the two Europes meet, Northern Europe and Mediterranean Europe. The city lies, moreover, in the vast Rhineland area which stretches from Basle to Cologne, which situates it not only geographically, but also culturally and historically.

Where there is water, there will be islands, and the most well-known one in Strasbourg, the Grande-île, is home to the historic centre of the city: its architectural ensemble has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988. Destroyed in the 5th century, the city rose from its ashes under the name of Strateburg, of which Strasbourg is a Germanic variant meaning “the fortified town” (die Burg) on “the road” (die Straße). At the crossroads of the north-south river route and an east-west overland route, Strasbourg constitutes the point where the two Europes meet, Northern Europe and Mediterranean Europe. The city lies, moreover, in the vast Rhineland area which stretches from Basle to Cologne, which situates it not only geographically, but also culturally and historically.