The name of Strasbourg – meaning “town at the crossing of roads” – is of Germanic origin: “stras,” from Strasse (street), and “burg,” from town or citadel. It is an enchanting historic place in the Alsace region of France and a city of contrasts: the language is French, but the architecture, food and wine are mostly German as, over the centuries, Alsace changed back and forth between French and German hands.
It is the home town of Johann Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press and birthplace of the French national anthem (“la Marseillaise”). Nowadays, it accommodates the European Parliament, which is the legislative institution of the European Union. It represents the 495 million inhabitants of the EU and it is the only institution to be directly elected by European citizens.
The Council of Europe is the oldest intergovernmental organization in Europe and brings together the largest number of European countries : 47 member states !