H ow can we present every facet of Strasbourg,with its two-thousand-year history,its location in the Rhine valley in the centre

of Europe, its blend of Germanic and Latin cultures and the influence all these aspects have had on its UNESCO-listed architectural heritage?

How can we present the seventh-largest cityin France, which, along with Geneva and New York, is one of only three cities to be home to international organizations without itself being a capital?

How can we depict its central position in the Europe of today?

How can we give an overview of all the European institutions with their seat in the city and show Strasbourg’s cosmopolitan character, the excellence of its university and its strategic location at the centre of major European transport and communications networks?

How can we portray the picture of a pioneer in urban mobility, with its exceptional quality of life, numerous public gardens and parks, museums, theatres and concert halls, restaurants and cafés?

How can we recount the origin of the city’s“The Europtimist” brand, which sums up Strasbourg’s reputation for innovation, its entrepreneurial drive and inventiveness in both business and research?

What we have set out to do in these few pagesis to give the answers to these questionsand to draw up a portrait of the city’s wealth of talent and the range of groundbreaking projects drivenby private and public stakeholders, including the City Council and the Urban Community of Strasbourg.

They will also give an idea of the major infrastructure projects being undertaken to improve the daily lives of the inhabitants and help the international development of our city. They will offer a better understanding of Strasbourg and the 28 communes surrounding the city, an inventive, outgoing, crossborder conurbation that has managed to keep its very human qualities

Roland RiesSenator

and Mayor of Strasbourg

Jacques BigotChairperson of the Urban Community

56677899

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E U R O P E A N C A P I TA LThe Capita l of European democrac y

A long tradit ion of d iscuss ion and debateA key par t of the re lat ionship bet ween France and Germany.

The Wor ld Forum for Democrac y 2000 years of h istor y

A c i t y open to the wor ldA Europe Centre

A C R E AT I V E , H I G H LY AT T R AC T I V E C I T YAt the centre of European markets

Shared values, brand and posit ioningAn internat ional ly- focused economy

I nnovat ion is key to dr iv ing growthThe Wacken, the f igurehead of an internat ional business c i t y

A comprehensive real - estate of fer ing designed for susta ined growthA N A B U N D A N C E O F B R A I N P O W E R

I n the Golden Tr iangle of European research The Univers i t y of Strasbourg - one of the dr ivers of the c i t y ’s attrac t iveness

Global ly ack nowledged research centres Promoting excel lence with the Techmed Campus

Competit iveness c lusters – creators of added valueStrasbourg, source of new ideas

The socia l economyGreen growth

Digita l net worksCreat ive ac t iv i t ies

A M O D E L O F V I R T U O U S G R O W T HA new c i t y centre by the R hineA new way of bui ld ing the c i t y

Strasbourg, p ioneer of urban travelThe largest c ycle -track net work in France

A laborator y for innovat ive mobi l i t y More ideas, less carbon

Zero pest ic ides - encouraging biodivers i t y !Urban nature and the fer t i le c i t y

A N E X T R AO R D I N A RY A R C H I T E C T U R A L H E R I TAG E The histor ic centre, a UNESCO World Her i tage s i te

The cathedral spire soars up into the Strasbourg sk yArchitec ture - t radit ion and dar ing

The urban prowess of the I mper ia l d istr ic tA N E W Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E

Strasbourg, laborator y of democrac yHousing for a l l

Happy chi ldren, f rom preschool to schoolA hub of socia l sol idar i t y

Spor t with a capita l ST H E C I T Y W I T H 9000 E V E N T S

A L I F E S T Y L E S H A R E D W I T H T H E W O R L DA broad range of hotelsChr istmas in Strasbourg

Food and wine The red carpet for convent ioneers

E U R O P E I S A L I V E H E R E

StrasbourgEuropeancapital

Supported by over

2000 years of history

and exchanges,

Strasbourg occupies

a leading position

at the core of Europe.

A city with a long humanist

tradition, it is the seat of many

institutions of the European

Union and of Greater Europe.

5

The seat of the European Parliament hosts monthly sessions of 736 parliamentarians

A fter the often tumultuous relations between the

two countries, Strasbourg has become the symbol of the reconciliation and friendship that now binds Germany and France. The Strasbourg-Ortenau Euro-district, with its population of over a million inhabitants, has provided a laboratory and launching-pad for a new crossborder governance.

The Capital of European democracy

A long tradition of discussion and debate

W ith its history steeped in Rhenish humanism,

Strasbourg has kept its mul-tisecular tradition, a driving force for discussion and debate. There is a strong

culture in the city supporting the diversity of religious faiths and inter-religious discus-sion, a throwback, perhaps, to the Concordat. Strasbourg is also a major political centre and was chosen for the meeting of 29 Heads of Government to mark the 60th anniversary of NATO in 2009. The city also hosts sessions of the European Parliament and the Parlia-mentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as the Strasbourg Club, which brings together the mayors of 37 European cities.

A key part of the relationship between France and Germany

StrasbourgEuropeancapital

The world Forum for DemocracyA global event for discussion

and thought on the construction and challenges of democracy.

The Agora houses three Council of Europe directorates.

The European Directoratefor the Quality of Medicinal Products helps promote and protect public and animal health in Europe.

The Council of Europe was founded in Strasbourg in 1949

and now has 47 Member States.

The European Court of Human Rights

protects the individual liberties of 800 million Europeans.

The hemicycle of the Council

of Europe.

7

European democracy

culture in the city supporting the diversity

A city symbolic of the long period of peace that has reigned in a continent often

shaken by con� ict and turmoil and a pio-neer of the construction of the European ideal, Strasbourg is home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the Gen-eral Secretariat of the Assembly of Euro-pean Regions, the European Youth Centre and the European Ombudsman. � e city is a working symbol of democracy and local governance and hosts a large number of related international events, such as the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, European Democracy Week and the Euro-pean Summer University of Democracy

A s a city with a major international status, Strasbourg is host to the World Forum

for Democracy, a global event supported

by a close partnership between the

Council of Europe and the city, which sets

out to provide a platform for discussion

for the construction and challenges of

democracy in the world. � e Strasbourg

forum comes between the economic

forum of Davos and the social forum of

Porto Allegre and attracts top-level experts

and politicians, while remaining accessible

to citizens from all over the world.

Strasbourg, 2000 yearsof history

12 BCOriginally a Roman camp,

Strasbourg has long watched

over the Rhine and its valley.

In 12 BC, the Romans built a

castrum on a marshy island on

the Ill river, which would later

become the city of Strasbourg.

Prosperity in the Middle AgesWith a booming economy driven by

the natural advantages of its location,

the city expanded and undertook the

construction of its celebrated pink

sandstone cathedral. Over the years,

Strasbourg became a major centre

for Humanism and the Reform.

Under French ruleIn 1681, Louis XIV’s troops

marched into the city.

With the Revolution and the Empire,

Strasbourg lost its status as a free

city and came under French rule.

The ravages of warAfter the siege of 1870, Strasbourg was

annexed to the German Empire, but

was returned to France in 1918, only

to be occupied again by Germany

in 1940, before being liberated by

General Leclerc on 23 November 1944.

Strasbourg, a city of symbolic importanceImmediately following the Second

World War, Strasberg became the

symbol of reconciliation and was chosen

as the seat of the Council of Europe.

A World Heritage city The whole of Strasbourg’s city centre

has been designated a UNESCO World

Heritage site and bears eloquent

witness to the successful blend and

infl uence of two diff erent cultures.

A city open to the world

(Re)discovering Europe

E urope is part and parcel of everyday

life in Strasbourg, and this is the message put across along the tourist circuits created by the City Council. These take visitors around some 25 points of interest, ranging from the historical centre to the European district, with cutting-edge information terminals underlining the central role the city has played in European history.

StrasbourgEuropeancapital

The European district: sleek, modern architectureand excellent quality of life.

9

A Europe Centre

T o give citizens a fuller picture of

the central role that Strasbourg has in Europe, the city is creating a “Europe Centre”. The centre will be located within the European district and will be a valuable source of information to help visitors gain a better understanding of both Europe and the role of the institutions based in the city.

S trasbourg’s location on the Rhine pro-vides the perfect opening to Europe and

explains its international importance. � e Council of Europe and its most important body, the European Court of Human Rights, were set up in the city between 1950 and 1959, followed by the European Parliament in 1965. Some 3000 legal professionals and o� cials work in these institutions and bring a welcome cosmopolitan feel to the city, which can also boast 47 diplomatic representations, making Strasbourg the city with the second largest diplomatic presence in Europe, after Geneva and without counting capital cities. Strasbourg’s deliberately international outlook has resulted in cooperation or twinning agree-ments with cities such as Boston (USA), Leicester (UK), Stuttgart and Dresden (Germany), Ramat Gan (Israel), but also Fès (Morocco), Jacmel (Haiti), Douala (Cam-eroon), Vologda (Russia), Kayseri (Turkey), Bamako (Mali) and Udaïpur (India)

As the key fi gure in the Rhine basin and Alsace

– the 1st-ranked region for per-capita exports in France - Strasbourg (and its 28 communes) is strategically positioned between France and Germany. The city’s growth is based on two levers – an innovation-led economy and a comprehensive real-estate off ering.

StrasbourgA creative,highly attractive city

The Crystal Park building, the central hub of the Espace européende l’Entreprise business park.

11

At the centre of European

markets

Key � gures

3 80 % of the European market is within a 500-kilometer radius of Strasbourg

3 Leading French region for exports (per capita)

3 Leading region in France in terms of Direct Foreign Investment per capita

3 Waterway traffi c has doubled over the past 6 years

3 2nd ranked French city for telecommunications

3 32 % of Alsatians are under 25 years of age

3 35 % of Alsatian companies have foreign capital (vs; a national average of 23 %)

StrasbourgA creative,highly attractive city

The Port of Strasbourg, the second-largest inland port in France.

The station and high-speed train network, a vital hub for north-south and east-west connections

Shuttles leave the train station every 10 minutes for the airport.

When Strasbourg connected up to the TGV East high-speed train system in 2007, the city’s train station underwent an extensive modernisation programme.

Strasbourg International airpot is connected to over 250 destinations

13

Shared values, brand and positioning

3

3

3

T here is considerable competition between metropolitan areas in Europe and Strasbourg

is determined to gain a signifi cant edge through a comprehensive economic strategy through to 2020. The city intends to be the focal point for the Upper Rhine metropolitan region, an ambi-tion based on the values inherent to its area: European, entrepreneurial, experienced, ex-perimental, ecological and ethical. These values, shared by all local economic stakeholders, are the driving force behind the city’s “Strasbourg the Europtimist” brand. Europe-wide develop-ment, creativity and entrepreneurship are unify-ing values that leverage economic promotion

S trasbourg is ideally located in the Rhine Valley within a catchment area

of some 30 million inhabitants living within 250 km of the city. An extensive high-speed train network connects the city with London, Paris, Stuttgart, Munich and Budapest along an east-west line, and Hamburg, Frankfurt, Lyon, Marseille and Barcelona from north to south, while the highway system links into the main European north-south and east-west routes.

The city has its own airport, while Basel-Mulhouse, Frankfurt and Zürich are

under two hours away, o� ering easy access to all worldwide destinations.� e Rhine, is, of course, one of Europe’s major waterways, and links the great North Sea ports with Central Europe and the Black Sea, via the Rhine-Main-Danube canal. � e port of Strasbourg handles some 300,000 containers every year.

The city’s strategic positionis further enhanced by one of the

most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe

Innovation is keyto driving growth

StrasbourgA creative,highly attractive city

A comprehensive

real-estate o� ering designed

for sustained growth

An internationally-

focused economy

A new district between Place de l’Etoile and the Rhine enjoys many attractive features.

15

The Wacken, the

� gurehead of an

international business city

Highly attractive business parks.

G reater Strasbourg has 1,200 hectares of land

devoted to business and economic development.

T he Espace européen de l’Entreprise business

park in Schiltigheim, for example, is home to a number of internationally-known companies, while the Illirch-based Parc de l’Innovation is a success-ful driver for scientifi c research and high-tech businesses. The Rhine port area is undergoing signifi -cant development, while local business incubators and an extensive hotel network make the area an ideal location for new and existing companies.

T he breadth and quality of Strasbourg’s real-estate

off ering makes the city a highly attractive prospect for major investors

S trasbourg has excellent connections to

international networks and possesses a robustly diversifi ed economic fabric where major international groups work alongside a plethora of SMEs. The region has over 1000 companies with majority foreign shareholdings.One Alsatian out of fi ve works for a foreign company, which makes Alsace the leading international region in the country. German companies are the most numerous, followed by American, Canadian, Swiss and Japanese groups

T he Wacken enjoys an ideal location between the European and banking

districts and is a key component in the city’s development programme. A new international business district gives Strasbourg a signi� cant edge over its rivals in the European market. � e Wacken-Europe project comprises three main parts:

3The renovation and extension of the Conference and Concert Centre, 3The construction of a new Exhibition Park 3A new, large-scale international business district including offi ces, business centres, a hotel, services and shops.

T he project will be completed in two phases, with 100,000 m2 built

between 2013 and 2017 and the remaining 120,000 m2 from 2017 to 2023. Wacken-Europe will be just a couple of tram stops away from the city centre and will bring a new human-focused and business dynamic to Strasbourg, with urban insertion delivering excellent services and quality of life

Strasbourg is located within a major industrial region and innovation is the driver which helps it maintain

its leading position. � e city has singled out four sectors as key to driving growth over the 10 next years: medical technologies and new therapies, innovative and multi-modal mobility, the high-end international services sec-tor and creative activities.

Seven � agship projects have been set out to provide a framework for Strasbourg’s inter-national and European ambition:

3An international business district for boosting the city’s attractiveness and driving the development of the high-end international services sector 3A major Strasbourg-Kehl cross-border urban project to expand the metropolitan area to the Rhine 3A strategy of international transport accessibility based on intermodality between the high-speed train system and international airports, to enhance links between Strasbourg and the major European and worldwide cities 3An international innovation park to boost Strasbourg’s position in international innovation networks 3A medical technologies centre to become the European benchmark for medical and surgical instruments and technologies 3A Franco-German company incubator to encourage and help companies develop in the two markets 3A unit for supporting new business creation to help entrepreneurs, make the best use of competencies and talents and create new jobs.

Strasbourg University has the largest number of students of any university in France and is

the top-ranked regional university according to the Shanghai rankings. The University can boast two Nobel prizewinners among its current academics and has a worldwide reputation for excellence in science. The relocation to Strasbourg of the ENA , the national school for training civil servants from France and other countries, proved a timely reminder of the city’s reputation for excellence.

StrasbourgAn abundanceof brainpower

17

T he University of

Strasbourg has some

42,000 students, 22% of

whom come from outside

France and it was one of the

fi rst groups of universities

to be selected as part of the

government-sponsored

“Campus” scheme. It is

also one of the major

benefi ciaries of government

funding as part of the

French “Investing for the

Future” plan and is one of

the 3 universities in France

to be awarded the “Initiative

of Excellence” label

Key � gures

3 77 research units

3 10 Ph.D. schools and 2650 Ph.D. students

3 2600 academics

3 2 Nobel prizewinners, 15 members of the French Academy, 43 members of the University Institute of France

StrasbourgAn abundanceof brainpower

In the Golden

Triangle of

European research

The University of Strasbourg - one of the drivers

of the city’s attractiveness

Globally acknowledged research centres

Pierre ChambonDoctor, biochemist and geneticist at the faculty of medicine of the University of Strasbourg, he founded the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Jean-Marie Lehn

Nobel Prize for

chemistry in 1987,

he is the world‘s

leading specialist

in supramolecular

chemistry.

Jules Ho� mann

Hoff man is one of the leading members of

the Alsatian scientifi c research community

and was awarded the 2011 Nobel prize for

medicine for his work on innate immunity.

Jacques MarescauxThe IRCAD Institute of Research against Digestive Cancer showcases the scientifi c excellence of Strasbourg. Its founder is a pioneer in telesurgery.

The Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology

The API (application and promotion of innovation) pole –The Illkirch-Graff enstaden innovation Park

The Instituteof Supramolecular Science and Engineering

19

Globally acknowledged

The Instituteof Supramolecular Science and Engineering

T he University of Strasbourg is one of the leading lights in European research. � e Institute of

Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology is

one of the main European centres for biomedical

research, while the IRCAD Institute of Research

against Digestive Cancer is the worldwide leader for

training in minimally invasive surgery and attracts

more than 3500 surgeons to the city every year. � e

Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering

is dedicated to developing interdisciplinary research.

Some of the leading names in world scienti� c and

medical research work in Strasbourg, including

Pierre Chambon, Jacques Marescaux, Jean-Marie

Lehn (Nobel prizewinner for chemistry in 1987) and

Jules Ho� mann (Nobel prizewinner for medicine

in 2011 for his work on innate immunity, which

triggered a major breakthrough in the � ght against

in� ammatory illnesses, infections and cancers).

� ese awards illustrate the excellence of the

work carried out both by the CNRS French

scienti� c research centre and the University of

Strasbourg in life sciences and medicine

S trasbourg University has the largest number of students and the biggest

choice of curricula in France, while Alsace is ranked 2nd among French regions for scienti� c publications and 3rd for public research. � e Shanghai rankings put the University in 14th place for its chemistry faculty. � e University is also part of the Eucor organisation, which brings together the universities of Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Basel, Fribourg and Karlsruhe to form a confederation which is the only one of its kind in Europe and which o� ers degree courses in 3 countries simultane-ously. � e famous Golden Triangle, which stretches for a radius of 120 km outside Strasbourg, is one of the highest concen-trations of laboratories and researchers in Europe, with 100,000 students, some 13,000 teachers and lecturers and 80 faculties and engineering schools

T he recently-created medical technology campus of Strasbourg

underscores the city’s leading position in healthcare research, training and transfer of technologies. � e Techmed Campus is based on 3 complementary programmes:

3 the IRCAD Institute of image-assisted minimally invasive surgery, 3a centre for the development of new medical instruments, run by the Faculty of Dental Surgery, 3 the Biocluster and Technoparc business parks for medical instrumentation companies.

T he aim of the Techmed project is to drive business relating to medi-

cal technology by bringing together public and private-sector stake-holders and creating closer links between research and industry

T he University of Strasbourg and its research laboratories work alongside companies in the

region’s competitiveness clusters. Alsace Biovalley, Véhicule du Futur, Fibres Grand Est, Alsace Énergivie and Hydreos are dynamic centres for innovation-led, high-added-value enterprises. As centres of excellence, the clusters give the region a genuine edge as regards international competition and are a driving force for regional development. Alsace Biovalley

, for example, is set to become an international benchmark for medical and surgical robotics and imaging and for discovering new medications

S trasbourg is a thriving, creative hub for new

ideas and for exploring new domains, breaking new ground and turning conventional approaches on their head

S trasbourg’s long tradition of social

solidarity is a driver for innovative community economic models, run by entrepreneurs who are passionate about promoting citizenship and democracy within the workplace.In Alsace, the social economy comprises some 5500 companies and employs 68,000 people

S trasbourg is committed to giving its active backing to innovative

projects with a high economic and ecological potential. � e city has formed a partnership with the Semia business incubator to promote the creation of innovation-led, green and cleantech companies. Collaborative projects are an integral part of the region’s activity, and involve businesses and research laboratories working together in areas such as water quality, sustainable buildings, organically-sourced materials, and renewable energy networks. � e region is fertile ground for entrepreneurs in the green innovation sector

T he Strasbourg Council was the � rst French

authority to sign a partnership agreement with Syntec Numérique, which will o� er a very high speed digital network for corporate customers. � e city is also the � rst to have deployed contactless mobile technology for its population

StrasbourgAn abundanceof brainpower

Promoting excellence with the

Techmed Campus

Competitivenessclusters, creators

of added valueStrasbourg, source of new ideas

Thesocial

economy

Green growth

Digital networks

Creative activities

Strasbourg is a renowned centre for culture and innovation and possessesa thriving creative economy.Creation and the creative arts have traditionally been part of the local economic fabric and innovation is playing a signifi cant role in their expansion.

21

With the country’s first

tram system and the

largest number

of cycle tracks, Strasbourg

is a leader in energy efficiency

and biodiversity and has

come up with a new model

for urban development.

StrasbourgA model of virtuous growth

23

StrasbourgA model of virtuous growth

A newcity centre

by the Rhine A new way of building the city

Strasbourg, pioneerof urban travel

W ith its 6 lines, 56 km of tracks, 69 stations

and 300,000 daily users, Strasbourg’s tram system is the largest in France. The decision to introduce trams to the city was made in the early 1990s, in order to hand the city back to pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport. The tram lines cover the whole of the city and its suburbs and have brought about a profound change in the way the city sees itself. Strasbourg was the fi rst city in France to opt for a return to the use of trams in order to change the way the city operates and contribute to a healthier climate. The city has also shown itself to be a pioneer in other areas of sustainable mobility, by improving walkability, building an extensive network of cycle tracks, introducing car-sharing schemes and a new road code

The tram has proved to be a game-changer for the city and has blended in seamlessly with the urban landscape.

The Deux Rives Park and the Mimram walkway provide an eye-catching link between Strasbourg and Germany.

The Seegmuller depot: a new

centre for arts, creation and leisure.

25

A dream come true! � e aim of the Deux Rives Strasbourg-Kehl project is to

make the Rhine a new focus for urban

and regional development. � e city will

be expanding its con� nes up to the banks

of the Rhine, a signi� cant statement of

its cross-border outreach. � e new part

of the city is taking shape, following a

series of neighbourhood consultations, as

part of an urban coproduction approach.

Examples of this include the award-

winning Danube eco-district and the

extension of the tram system to Kehl

building the city

A s part of the drive for sustainable development, Strasbourg has

developed an eco-district programme,

an entirely new way of building and

living in the city. By 2016, Strasbourg

will have 16 eco-districts, each

sharing the same objectives:

3 the coexistence of living areas

and protected parkland

3 low energy consumption

3promoting pedestrian areas and

cycle tracks, as well as car sharing.

� e Danube eco-district is an excellent

example of this approach. With 650

low-energy housing units, o� ces

and services, the district overlooks

the Rhine and the old port facilities.

Strasbourg has also launched the “10

areas for 10 sustainable buildings»

pilot operation, the � rst of its kind in

France. � e project will involve private

stakeholders joining together to launch

a cooperative housing project

S trasbourg has over 530 km of cycle tracks, and 30% of all trips in the city are made by bicycle.

� e city has been highly active in promoting the use of bicycles, with extensive cycle parking facilities and a large-scale bike hire scheme.

Strasbourg is a benchmark for innovative mobility.

� e city has introduced a new road code and set up social areas within the city, a clear sign of its strategy for sharing the public space and delivering an excellent quality of life for its inhabitants.Cars will, of course, always be part and parcel of city life, but their use must be subject to certain conditions, in line with environmental concerns. Strasbourg has set the example with a partnership undertaken with Toyota and EDF, which involves a � eet of 100 rechargeable hybrid vehicles for use by businesses and local authority agencies. � is experimental project in the use of electronic vehicles has attracted worldwide interest, and is to be followed by the CRYSTAL project, featuring a � eet of small electric cars

S trasbourg actively encourages the local popula-tion to grow their own fruit and vegetables and has set

up channels linking producers to local consumers. Nature is back in town and the city is becoming a hive of fertility.Strasbourg encourages neighbourhood agriculture, two examples of which are the “Farm in the City”operation and the Markthalle food centre project.People living near schools and pupils’ parents can buy farm baskets � lled with local produce.Nature is also being encouraged to return to the urban, ecological, culture and social environment, an important symbol of which is the creation of a 770 acre urban park area within the city

S trasbourg has stopped all use of phy-tosanitary products and aims to

become a national and international benchmark for urban biodiversity.

� e zero pesticide policy has signi� cant environmental, social and economic bene� ts and has brought about a considerable change in the way we interact with our natural environment. � e results are plain to see, with wild � owers coming back to the pavements and grass areas and � elds blooming with colour.

O ther initiatives undertaken by the city include:

3creating shared gardens 3planting collective and educational orchards 3agreements with committed local inhabitants for managing neighbourhood trees

StrasbourgA model of virtuous growth

The largest cycle-track network

in France

A laboratoryfor innovative

mobility

More ideas, less carbon

Zero pesticides:

encouraging biodiversity!

Urban nature and the fertile city

S trasbourg is an environmentally-

aware city with clear objectives for a healthier climate:

3bring down energy consumption by 30%, 3bring down greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, 3bring the share of renewable energies up to 30 % of total energy consumption.

� e city and its inhabitants are using all the means at their disposal to reach these objectives

27

The architecture to be seen in Strasbourg is extraordinary by any

standards, with its magnificent cathedral, Imperial palaces, half-beam houses, historical museums and mediaeval streets. Modern architecture also holds its own, with some audacious contemporary buildings.

StrasbourgAn extraordinary architectural heritage

29

The historic centre,

a UNESCO world Heritage

site

The cathedralspire

soars up intothe Strasbourg

sky

31StrasbourgAn extraordinary architectural heritage

S trasbourg Cathedral is an immense building with a single

spire, 142 m high, made of pink sandstone. Dominating the city centre, it was, until 1647, the world’s tallest building and is considered to be a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Magni� cent carvings adorn the front of the cathedral and the building drew the admiration of Victor Hugo, who said “it is admirable to be able to walk round this immense mass of stone, full of air and light… which throbs with the blowing wind”, while Goethe described it as a “sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God.”

S urrounded by two arms of the river Ill, Grande Ile, the historic centre

of Strasbourg, was named a UNESCO

World Heritage Centre in 1988. � e

mediaeval part of the city stretches

out from the cathedral and through

the twisting streets and alleys, with

their half-beam houses and 18th-

century mansions. � e street names

often re� ect the Guild movement,

with rue des Drapiers and the impasse

des Orfèvres, place des Tripiers and

the quai des Bateliers. Over 135

remarkable historical monuments

stand within the 222 acres of Grande

Île, surrounded by the river, with

its old bridges and walkways

Architecture – tradition

and daring

33StrasbourgAn extraordinary architectural heritage

T he history of Strasbourg is engraved in the stones of the city, which re� ect its glorious past. � e

passage of time from the 15th to the 18th centuries can be traced through the 4 old churches of Saint � omas, Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux, Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune and Saint-Etienne, the buildings comprising the Œuvre Notre-Dame, Grande Boucherie, the Neubau (which houses the city’s Chamber of Commerce), the Palais Rohan and the Aubette.

Strasbourg can also boast some remarkable modern architecture, including the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. � e monumental facade of the station is covered by an immense glass construction, designed as a hallway towards the city’s transport systems. � e pink granite and glass Museum of Modern Art is another � ne example of imaginative architecture and is built on the site of the old slaughterhouse.� e Malraux Island just outside the centre has undergone a remarkable change over the last couple of years, with the construction of a music and dance centre and the municipal library and media library

T he Neustadt district houses the

Imperial buildings constructed between 1880 1918 when the

city was under German rule.� e Palais du Rhin, Palais Universitaire and, the National and University library o� er an excellent insight into the history of architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.� e monumental style and broad avenues give an clear picture of what the city set out to be when it was in German hands and it remains a model of its kind even today.� e Imperial district is currently being considered for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site

The urban prowessof the Imperial district

Canals and winding streets In the Petite France.

The Palais du Rhinis a fi ne exampleof Prussian architecture.

The fi rst session of the Council of Europe was held in 1949 in the Aula of the Palais Universitaire, the main university building.

The Museum of Contemporary Modern Art was designed by architect Adrien Fainsilber.

In 2009, the European Parliament celebrated the 10th anniversary of its seat.

The city’s development strategy pays particular attention

to the quality of life of its inhabitants. Participatory governance, housing and extensive local facilities are just a few features of a policy encouraging a harmonious, socially responsible city.

StrasbourgA newquality-of-life

35

StrasbourgA newquality-of-life

Strasbourg, laboratory

of democracy

Happy children,

from preschool to school

37

Démocratie locale :vos idées circulent

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Strasbourg« ville 12 étoiles »

partenaire du Conseil de l’Europe

Da

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vill

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Housing for all Housing

S trasbourg has a duty to meet the needs of all

its citizens, throughout the diff erent phases of their lives and to build a city which people can feel comfortable living in. A large-scale housing program is underway, with 18,000 new housing units planned for 2016. Social and ecological considerations are key to this program, which is intended to be accessible to people from all walks of life.The city is also pursuing its urban renovation programme in districts such as Neuhof, the Meinau, Hautepierre and Cronenbourg. What this means is enhancing the living environment, renovating existing buildings, off ering a wide range of housing, improving public spaces and developing services for the districts’ 30,000 inhabitants

T he city can boast a vast network of crèches, schools, stadiums,

gymnasiums, playgrounds, libraries,

media libraries, concert halls, etc,

within the reach of all its inhabitants.

Our younger generation is core

to these actions and the city

provides extensive facilities

for preschool-age children.

In addition to the 5000 places

already available, by 2014 the

city will have created 350 extra

places in crèches and 5 new

kindergartens, while improving

conditions for parents by, for

example, extending opening hours.

A programme is also under way

to improve the conditions of the

23,000 children in nursery and

primary schools, with high-quality

school meals, fair pricing, improved

heating and acoustics and additional

teaching sta� . Special emphasis

is placed on the cultural and

sports education of these young

children. Special facilities are also

available for disabled children.

As the seat of many international

institutions and foreign companies

and a seedbed for international

talents, Strasbourg is proud

of its cosmopolitan status.

Many of the city’s schools o� er

multilingual teaching, while 25

schools o� er a bilingual French/

German education. In 2008, France’s

� rst European school opened in the

city, catering for pupils of nursery

school age right up to those taking

the European baccalaureat

S trasbourg is a � rm believer in

involving its citizens in its decisions

and projects and discussions are held

through district councils, foreign

resident councils, project workshops

and other bodies. Consultation

is a vital cog in the city’s local

governance and Strasbourg is

considered as a genuine laboratory

for innovative local democracy.

StrasbourgA newquality-of-life

Strasbourg, a hub of social solidarity

39

Sport with

a capital Ssocial solidarity

W ith its long tradition of social solidarity, Strasbourg has developed speci� c programmes

to combat inequalities, open up access to healthcare,

protect the most vulnerable inhabitants, preserve

jobs and autonomy, encourage social insertion and

provide emergency accommodation. � e city and

its surroundings have 17 health centres, an urban

healthcare centre, and a youth centre. As a signatory

to the French “Ville et handicap” charter, Strasbourg

is committed to helping improve the quality of life

of its disabled inhabitants. � is involves the strict

application of the French law introduced on 11th

every 2005, “for equal rights and opportunities,

participation and citizenship of disabled people”

and also to help the citizens overcome the

di� culties they encounter in their daily lives.

Considerable attention is also focused on the

elderly, core to which are the city’s 7 special

homes for the aged. Strasbourg also set up a

programme to aid senior citizens through home

help, preventing the isolation of elderly people

and providing help for dependent persons

S trasbourg o� ers a comprehensive range of sports facilities. � e city has

some 220 clubs, where a total of 128 di� erent sports are played, with the young and families a special focus. � e city has its own sports school, while local schools o� er sports discovery activities, and in summer the city organises sports events within the city. Less arduous sports, such as yoga, taï chi, stretching and Nordic walking are also fully catered for. Strasbourg hosts major sports events, such as an international women’s tennis tournament, the handball Eurotournament and the French swimming, tae kwon do and weightlifting Championships.� e Allianz Golf Tour chose Strasbourg for one of its tournaments in 2010, while the French stage of the World Rally Championship (WRC) was also held in and around the city. � e city’s sports development programme is set to con� rm Strasbourg’s place in the sporting agenda.Local swimming pools have undergone extensive renovation, and are ideal for both for occasional and serious swimmers. Facilities include a superb

“art deco” pool, as well as a heated open-air pool and the many lake and river beaches open in summer.

D oing sport has never been easier in Strasbourg

Museums, opera,

conservatoire…

Strasbourg

is a thriving

centre for cultural

activities of all

kinds and is one

of Europe’s busiest

areas for the

performing arts.

StrasbourgThe city with9000 events

41

T he Strasbourg Conservatoire is one of

the oldest public music teaching institutions in France and is housed in the Cité de la musique et de la danse, the city’s new cultural centre. It is still renowned for teaching musicians, but nowadays it also has drama and dance students

Strasbourg dances, acts, composes, paints and sings

all the greatest opera arias. With over

9000 events every year, the city is a � agship

for cultural expression.

StrasbourgThe city with9000 events

The city off ers extensive facilities for music of all

kinds, with concerts held regularly at venues such as the Zénith, the Laiterie Artefact, Pôle Sud and the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, as well as the Illiade in Illkirch-Graff enstaden, the Cheval Blanc in Schiltigheim, the Espace culturel in Vendenheim, Le Cercle in Bischheim, Le PréO in Oberhausbergen, and Le Point d’Eau in Ostwald

O ne of the focal points of cultural activity in

Strasbourg is the theatre. The Théâtre national de Strasbourg has a worldwide reputation and stages over 150 performances per year in the city and over 100 outside. The Théâtre Jeune Public is aimed at a younger audience and is especially well known for its annual puppetry festival. It gives over 250 performances every year, many of which are its own creations. Alsatian theatre is also very active, with a huge variety of performances and shows, including comedies, folk festivals, revues and storytelling. The Maillon is a major contributor to the city’s cultural scene, with a programme covering music, theatre, dance, visual arts and circus

T he centrepiece of the 26 libraries and

media libraries in the city is the Malraux media library, the biggest of its kind in Eastern France. The libraries stage regular literature and illustration-related events, such as Les Bibliothèques idéales. The Artothèque in the Neudorf media library is designed as a centre for the democratisation of art and encourages creative work through acquisitions and its mediation work

M usic festivals are held throughout the

year and include the Strasbourg Music Festival, the Festival of Artefacts, Les Nuits électroniques de l’Ososphère, Jazzdor, Strasbourg Méditerranée, Les Nuits européennes, Contre-Temps and Musica, which attract top musicians from all over the world

S trasbourg’s 10 museums illustrate

the city’s enormous cultural wealth and comprise the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée historique, Musée de l’œuvre Notre-Dame, Musée alsacien, Musée archéologique, Musée zoologique, Musée des Arts décoratifs, Cabinet des Estampes et des Dessins and the Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain. The Tomi Ungerer Museum, is an international centre for illustration, and exhibits the 8000 works of the eponymous artist. It also features regular exhibitions of artists such as Willem, Chaval and Maurice Henry, Polish poster artists and New York illustrators

43

The Opéra national du Rhin has a

worldwide reputation for the quality of its productions and every year stages over 140 performances of opera and dance , recitals, concerts as well as events for younger audiences. The company travels between its 3 home cities - Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Colmar

T he Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra

gives over 30 concerts in the year and also plays with the Opéra national du Rhin. The orchestra is rightly proud of its reputation for excellence and is a global fl ag bearer for music in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg’s long tradition

of hospitality makes it

the ideal host for people

and languages from all over

the world. The city is actively

committed to helping its

foreign visitors feel as

comfortable as possible.

StrasbourgA lifestyle sharedwith the world

45

S ome 4 million people visit Strasbourg every

year, including 2 million at Christmas. Come Decem-ber, the streets are full of people going round the world-famous Christmas market, looking up at the giant Christmas tree in the city’s main square, admi-ring the Christmas lights, eating the delicious tradi-tional Alsatian Christmas biscuits and cakes, visiting the kids village and liste-ning to music. There’s a surprise every minute in the streets of Christmas - entertainment, friendship, music and laughter

StrasbourgA lifestyle sharedwith the world

A broad range

of hotels

Christmas in Strasbourg

47

A ttracting foreign

visitors means

o� ering a wide range of

hotel accommodation.

� e choice in the city

ranges from luxury

hotels and international

chains through to the

coziest of family-run

accommodation. Total

hotel capacity runs to

some 10,000 rooms

The Palais des Congrès conference centreoff ers 50 000 m2 of space for events of all kinds.

Strasbourg’s development plans in 2014 will enhance

the city’s attractiveness

through a 3-prong project:3 A renovated

and redesigned music and

conference centre

3 A new exhibition park

3 A new, 30- acre business district,

(100, 000 m² from 2013 to 2017 and 120,000 m² from

2017 to 2023).

S trasbourg has an extraordinary reputation for food and wine

and is home to some of France’s

� nest and most inventive chefs.

Alsatian food is classic French regional

cuisine, with choucroute, baeckeo� e,

tarte � ambée, spaetzle, foie gras and

many other mouthwatering specialties.

Traditional food is often best eaten

in the famous local winstubs, with

their lively, friendly atmosphere.

� e city has hundreds of restaurants,

with in� uences from all over the world

Foodand wine

The red carpet for

conventioneers

The Palais des Congrès conference centreoff ers 50 000 mfor events of all kinds.

Strasbourg’s

S trasbourg is the 2nd ranked French city for international

conventions and events, which

constitute a major economic

driver for the city. A substantial

investment programme is

underway to upgrade the facilities

and maintain the city’s leading

position in France and in Europe.

� e programme includes a renovated

and redesigned conference centre

and a new Exhibition Park in the

centre of the European district

The new district is located right next to the European Parliament and will feature offi ces, business centres, shops, a hotel complex and 250 housing units.

S trasbourg’s 2000 year history has taken it from being a prosperous merchant city to

its current position as capital of the peoples of Europe, from a centre for humanist thinking to a thriving hub of creators and entrepreneurs.

With its blend of cultures, innate tolerance, ecological awareness and embodiment of the European spirit, Strasbourg is a highly attractive, yet contemporary city. A multifaceted image, which is the basis of its originality.

Highly liveable, curious and creative, the city is changing to the tune of an open world.

Europe is alive here - the Europe of democracy, the Europe which belongs to its citizens, is being constructed here to deal with the major issues currently facing our society, such as education, industrial modernisation, solidarity, the change in energy sources and eco-responsibility.

Strasbourg, inspired perhaps by the soaring steeple of its cathedral, is a city where culture and business combine to form fertile ground for our future development

Telephone : +33 (0)3 88 60 90 90 Email : courrier@strasbourg.euInternet : www.strasbourg.eu

Designed and produced by : : Les ExplorateursEdited by : : Eric Pilarczyk

Photo credits : : Ville de Strasbourg, Ernest Laemmel, Frédéric Maigrot, Jérome Dorkel, Patrick Bogner, Geneviève Engel, Aimée Thirion, Christophe Kaiser, Philippe Schalk, Christophe Le Blay,

Frantisek Zvardon, Cabinet Denu-Paradon, Bouygues Immobilier, P. Heck, AEA Architectes, Devillers & Associés, Shutterstock, 123RF, Photo-libre.fr, Les Explorateurs.

Printed by Imprimerie Ott Wasselonne - Mai 2012

Ville et Communauté urbaine1 parc de l’Étoile

67076 Strasbourg Cedex - France