E U R O P E A N C A P I TA L Th e Ca pi ta l o f Eu ro pe a n d e mo c ra c y A l o n g tra d i ti o n o f d i s c u s s i o n a n d d e bate A key p a r t o f th e re l ati o n s h i p be t we e n Fra n ce a n d G e r ma ny. Th e Wo r l d Fo r u m fo r D e mo c ra c y 2 0 0 0 ye a r s o f h i s to r y A c i t y o pe n to th e wo r l d A Eu ro pe Ce ntre A C R E AT I V E , H I G H LY AT T R AC T I V E C I T Y At th e ce ntre o f Eu ro pe a n ma r k e ts S h a re d va l u e s, bra n d a n d po s i ti o n i n g A n i nte r n ati o n a l l y- fo c u s e d e co n o my I n n ovati o n i s k e y to d r i v i n g grow th Th e Wa cken , t h e f i g u re h e a d o f a n i nte r n ati o n a l bu s i n e s s c i t y A co m p reh en sive rea l - e s tate o f fe r i n g d e s i gn e d fo r s u s ta i n e d grow th AN ABUNDANCE OF BRAINPOWER I n th e G o l d e n Tr i a n g l e o f Eu ro pe a n re s e a rc h Th e U n iversit y o f S t ra sb o u rg - o n e o f th e d r i ve r s o f th e c i t y ’s attra c ti ve n e s s G l o ba l l y a c k n ow l e d g e d re s e a rc h ce ntre s Pro mo ti n g e xce l l e n ce w i th th e Te c h me d Ca mpu s Co mpe ti ti ve n e s s c l u s te r s – c re ato r s o f a d d e d va l u e S tra s bo u rg, s o u rce o f n e w i d e a s Th e s o c i a l e co n o my G re e n grow th D i gi ta l n e t wo r k s C re ati ve a c ti v i ti e s A MODEL OF VIRTUOUS GROWTH A n e w c i t y ce ntre by th e R h i n e A n e w way o f bu i l d i n g th e c i t y S tra s bo u rg, pi o n e e r o f u r ba n trave l Th e l a rg e s t c yc l e - tra c k n e t wo r k i n Fra n ce A l a bo rato r y fo r i n n ovati ve mo bi l i t y M o re i d e a s, l e s s c a r bo n Ze ro pe s ti c i d e s - e n co u ra gi n g bi o d i ve r s i t y ! U r ba n n atu re a n d th e fe r ti l e c i t y A N E X T R AO R D I N A R Y A R C H I T E C T U R A L H E R I TAG E The h i s to r i c ce ntre, a U N E SCO Wo r l d H e r i ta g e s i te Th e c ath e d ra l s pi re s o a r s u p i nto th e S tra s bo u rg s k y A rc h i te c tu re - tra d i ti o n a n d d a r i n g Th e u r ba n prowe s s o f th e I mpe r i a l d i s tr i c t A N E W Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E S tra s bo u rg, l a bo rato r y o f d e mo c ra c y H o u s i n g fo r a l l H a ppy c h i l d re n , f ro m pre s c h o o l to s c h o o l A hub of social solidarity S po r t w i th a c a pi ta l S T H E C I T Y W I T H 9000 E V E N T S A LIFESTYLE SHARED WITH THE WORLD A bro a d ra n g e o f h o te l s C h r i s tma s i n Stra s bo u rg Fo o d a n d w i n e Th e re d c a r pe t fo r co nve nti o n e e r s EUROPE IS ALIVE HERE
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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 city in 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?
Roland Ries Senator and Mayor of Strasbourg
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?
Jacques Bigot Chairperson of the Urban Community
What we have set out to do in these few pages is to give the answers to these questions and to draw up a portrait of the city’s wealth of talent and the range of groundbreaking projects driven by 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
Strasbourg European capital
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upported by over 2000 years of history and exchanges,
Strasbourg occupies a leading position
The seat of the European Parliament hosts monthly sessions of 736 parliamentarians
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.
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Strasbourg European capital
The hemicycle of the Council of Europe.
The world Forum for Democracy A global event for discussion and thought on the construction and challenges of democracy.
The European Court of Human Rights protects the individual liberties of 800 million Europeans.
The Capital of European democracy
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The Council of Europe was founded in Strasbourg in 1949 and now has 47 Member States.
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. The 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.
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city symbolic of the long period of peace that has reigned in a continent often shaken by conflict and turmoil and a pioneer 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 General Secretariat of the Assembly of European Regions, the European Youth Centre and the European Ombudsman. The 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 European Summer University of Democracy
A long tradition of discussion and debate
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ith its history steeped in Rhenish humanism, Strasbourg has kept its multisecular 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 discussion, 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 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as the Strasbourg Club, which brings together the mayors of 37 European cities.
The Agora houses three Council of Europe directorates.
A key part of the relationship between France and Germany
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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 Eurodistrict, with its population of over a million inhabitants, has provided a laboratory and launching-pad for a new crossborder governance.
The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicinal Products helps promote and protect public and animal health in Europe.
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Strasbourg European capital
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Strasbourg, 2000 years of history
A city open to the world
12 BC Originally 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 Ages
With 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 rule In 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 war After 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.
trasbourg’s location on the Rhine provides the perfect opening to Europe and Sexplains its international importance. The
(Re)discovering Europe
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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.
A Europe Centre
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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.
Strasbourg, a city of symbolic importance Immediately 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 influence of two different cultures.
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 officials 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 agreements with cities such as Boston (USA), Leicester (UK), Stuttgart and Dresden (Germany), Ramat Gan (Israel), but also Fès (Morocco), Jacmel (Haiti), Douala (Cameroon), Vologda (Russia), Kayseri (Turkey), Bamako (Mali) and Udaïpur (India)
The European district: sleek, modern architecture and excellent quality of life.
Strasbourg A creative, highly attractive city
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The Crystal Park building, the central hub of the Espace européen de l’Entreprise business park.
s the key figure 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 offering.
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Strasbourg A creative, highly attractive city
At the centre of European markets Shared values, brand and positioning
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When Strasbourg connected up to the TGV East high-speed train system in 2007, the city’s train station underwent an extensive modernisation programme.
S The Port of Strasbourg, the secondlargest inland port in France.
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 eastwest 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.
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here is considerable competition between metropolitan areas in Europe and Strasbourg is determined to gain a significant edge through a comprehensive economic strategy through to 2020. The city intends to be the focal point for the Upper Rhine metropolitan region, an ambition based on the values inherent to its area: European, entrepreneurial, experienced, experimental, 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 development, creativity and entrepreneurship are unifying values that leverage economic promotion
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he city has its own airport, while BaselMulhouse, Frankfurt and Zürich are under two hours away, offering easy access to all worldwide destinations. The 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. The port of Strasbourg handles some 300,000 containers every year.
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he city’s strategic position is further enhanced by one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
Shuttles leave the train station every 10 minutes for the airport. Strasbourg International airpot is connected to over 250 destinations
Key figures 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 traffic 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 %)
The station and high-speed train network, a vital hub for north-south and east-west connections
Strasbourg A creative, highly attractive city
A new district between Place de l’Etoile and the Rhine enjoys many attractive features.
An internationallyfocused economy
Innovation is key to driving growth
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trasbourg has excellent connections to international networks and possesses a robustly diversified 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 five 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
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trasbourg is located within a major industrial region and innovation is the driver which helps it maintain its leading position. The city has singled out four sectors as key to driving growth over the 10 next years: medical technologies and new therapies, innovative and multimodal mobility, the high-end international services sector and creative activities. Seven flagship projects have been set out to provide a framework for Strasbourg’s international and European ambition:
3 An international business district for boosting the
city’s attractiveness and driving the development of the high-end international services sector 3 A major Strasbourg-Kehl cross-border urban project to expand the metropolitan area to the Rhine 3 A 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 3 An international innovation park to boost Strasbourg’s position in international innovation networks 3 A medical technologies centre to become the European benchmark for medical and surgical instruments and technologies 3 A Franco-German company incubator to encourage and help companies develop in the two markets A 3 unit for supporting new business creation to help entrepreneurs, make the best use of competencies and talents and create new jobs.
The Wacken, the figurehead of an international business city
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A comprehensive real-estate offering designed for sustained growth
3 The renovation and extension of the
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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 significant edge over its rivals in the European market. The Wacken-Europe project comprises three main parts:
Conference and Concert Centre, The construction of a 3 new Exhibition Park 3 A new, large-scale international business district including offices, business centres, a hotel, services and shops.
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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
reater Strasbourg has 1,200 hectares of land devoted to business and economic development.
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he Espace européen de l’Entreprise business park in Schiltigheim, for example, is home to a number of internationallyknown companies, while the Illirch-based Parc de l’Innovation is a successful driver for scientific research and high-tech businesses. The Rhine port area is undergoing significant development, while local business incubators and an extensive hotel network make the area an ideal location for new and existing companies.
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he breadth and quality of Strasbourg’s real-estate offering makes the city a highly attractive prospect for major investors Highly attractive business parks.
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Strasbourg An abundance of brainpower
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trasbourg 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.
Strasbourg An abundance of brainpower
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The API (application and promotion of innovation) pole –The IllkirchGraffenstaden innovation Park
The Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology
Globally acknowledged research centres
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S In the Golden Triangle of European research
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 scientific publications and 3rd for public research. The Shanghai rankings put the University in 14th place for its chemistry faculty. The 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 offers degree courses in 3 countries simultaneously. The famous Golden Triangle, which stretches for a radius of 120 km outside Strasbourg, is one of the highest concentrations of laboratories and researchers in Europe, with 100,000 students, some 13,000 teachers and lecturers and 80 faculties and engineering schools
he University of Strasbourg is one of the leading lights in European research. The 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. The Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering is dedicated to developing interdisciplinary research. Some of the leading names in world scientific and medical research work in Strasbourg, including Pierre Chambon, Jacques Marescaux, Jean-Marie Lehn (Nobel prizewinner for chemistry in 1987) and Jules Hoffmann (Nobel prizewinner for medicine in 2011 for his work on innate immunity, which triggered a major breakthrough in the fight against inflammatory illnesses, infections and cancers). These awards illustrate the excellence of the work carried out both by the CNRS French scientific research centre and the University of Strasbourg in life sciences and medicine
The University of Strasbourg - one of the drivers of the city’s attractiveness
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he University of Strasbourg has some
42,000 students, 22% of whom come from outside France and it was one of the first groups of universities to be selected as part of the government-sponsored “Campus” scheme. It is
The Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering
3 77 research units 3 10 Ph.D. schools and 2650 Ph.D. students Pierre Chambon
Doctor, biochemist and geneticist at the faculty of medicine of the University of Strasbourg, he founded the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology.
also one of the major beneficiaries 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
Jean-Marie Lehn Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1987, he is the world‘s leading specialist in supramolecular chemistry.
Jules Hoffmann
Hoffman is one of the leading members of the Alsatian scientific research community and was awarded the 2011 Nobel prize for medicine for his work on innate immunity.
Key figures
Jacques Marescaux
The IRCAD Institute of Research against Digestive Cancer showcases the scientific excellence of Strasbourg. Its founder is a pioneer in telesurgery.
3 2600 academics 3 2 Nobel prizewinners, 15 members of the French Academy, 43 members of the University Institute of France
Strasbourg An abundance of brainpower
The social economy
Promoting excellence with the Techmed Campus
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Strasbourg, source of new ideas
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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 innovationled, 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
Digital networks
Green growth
Competitiveness clusters, creators of added value
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he recently-created medical technology campus of Strasbourg underscores the city’s leading position in healthcare research, training and transfer of technologies. The Techmed Campus is based on 3 complementary programmes: 3 the IRCAD Institute of imageassisted minimally invasive surgery, a 3 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. he aim of the Techmed project is to drive business relating to medical technology by bringing together public and private-sector stakeholders and creating closer links between research and industry
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trasbourg is a thriving, creative hub for new ideas and for exploring new domains, breaking new ground and turning conventional approaches on their head
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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
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trasbourg is committed to giving its active backing to innovative projects with a high economic and ecological potential. The 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. The region is fertile ground for entrepreneurs in the green innovation sector
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he Strasbourg Council was the first French authority to sign a partnership agreement with Syntec Numérique, which will offer a very high speed digital network for corporate customers. The city is also the first to have deployed contactless mobile technology for its population
Creative activities Strasbourg is a renowned centre for culture and innovation and possesses a thriving creative economy. Creation and the creative arts have traditionally been part of the local economic fabric and innovation is playing a significant role in their expansion.
Strasbourg A model of virtuous growth
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ith 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.
Strasbourg A model of virtuous growth
The Seegmuller depot: a new centre for arts, creation and leisure.
Strasbourg, pioneer of urban travel
A new city centre by the Rhine
W A new way of building the city
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dream come true! The aim of the Deux Rives Strasbourg-Kehl project is to make the Rhine a new focus for urban and regional development. The city will be expanding its confines up to the banks of the Rhine, a significant statement of its cross-border outreach. The 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 awardwinning Danube eco-district and the extension of the tram system to Kehl
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 3 promoting pedestrian areas and cycle tracks, as well as car sharing.
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 Danube eco-district is an excellent example of this approach. With 650 low-energy housing units, offices and services, the district overlooks the Rhine and the old port facilities. Strasbourg has also launched the “10 areas for 10 sustainable buildingsÂť pilot operation, the first of its kind in France. The project will involve private stakeholders joining together to launch a cooperative housing project
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 first 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
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Strasbourg A model of virtuous growth
Zero pesticides: encouraging biodiversity!
A laboratory for innovative mobility
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The largest cycle-track network in France
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trasbourg has over 530 km of cycle tracks, and 30% of all trips in the city are made by bicycle. The city has been highly active in promoting the use of bicycles, with extensive cycle parking facilities and a large-scale bike hire scheme.
trasbourg is a benchmark for innovative mobility. The 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 fleet of 100 rechargeable hybrid vehicles for use by businesses and local authority agencies. This experimental project in the use of electronic vehicles has attracted worldwide interest, and is to be followed by the CRYSTAL project, featuring a fleet of small electric cars
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More ideas, less carbon
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trasbourg is an environmentallyaware city with clear objectives for a healthier climate: 3 bring down energy consumption by 30%, 3 bring down greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, 3 bring the share of renewable energies up to 30 % of total energy consumption. The city and its inhabitants are using all the means at their disposal to reach these objectives
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trasbourg has stopped all use of phytosanitary products and aims to become a national and international benchmark for urban biodiversity.
The zero pesticide policy has significant environmental, social and economic benefits and has brought about a considerable change in the way we interact with our natural environment. The results are plain to see, with wild flowers coming back to the pavements and grass areas and fields blooming with colour.
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ther initiatives undertaken by the city include: creating shared gardens 3 planting collective and educational orchards 3 agreements with committed 3 local inhabitants for managing neighbourhood trees
Urban nature and the fertile city
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trasbourg actively encourages the local population 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 filled 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
Strasbourg An extraordinary architectural heritage
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he 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.
Strasbourg An extraordinary architectural heritage
The historic centre, a UNESCO world Heritage site
The cathedral spire soars up into the Strasbourg sky
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urrounded by two arms of the river Ill, Grande Ile, the historic centre of Strasbourg, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 1988. The mediaeval part of the city stretches out from the cathedral and through the twisting streets and alleys, with their half-beam houses and 18thcentury mansions. The street names often reflect 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
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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. Magnificent 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, widespreading tree of God.”
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Strasbourg An extraordinary architectural heritage
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Canals and winding streets In the Petite France.
Architecture – tradition and daring
he history of Strasbourg is engraved in the stones of the city, which reflect its glorious past. The passage of time from the 15th to the 18th centuries can be traced through the 4 old churches of Saint Thomas, Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux, Saint-Pierre-leJeune 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. The monumental facade of the station is covered by an immense glass construction, designed as a hallway towards the city’s transport systems. The pink granite and glass Museum of Modern Art is another fine example of imaginative architecture and is built on the site of the old slaughterhouse. The 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
In 2009, the European Parliament celebrated the 10th anniversary of its seat.
The Museum of Contemporary Modern Art was designed by architect Adrien Fainsilber.
The first session of the Council of Europe was held in 1949 in the Aula of the Palais Universitaire, the main university building.
The Palais du Rhin is a fine example of Prussian architecture.
The urban prowess of the Imperial district
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he Neustadt district houses the Imperial buildings constructed between 1880 1918 when the city was under German rule. The Palais du Rhin, Palais Universitaire and, the National and University library offer an excellent insight into the history of architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 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. The Imperial district is currently being considered for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site
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Strasbourg A new quality-of-life
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he 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.
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Strasbourg A new quality-of-life
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Happy children, from preschool to school
Strasbourg, laboratory of democracy
Housing for all
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trasbourg is a firm 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
Démocratie locale :
vos idées circulent Plus de 750 projets réalisés avec vous depuis 2008
is a vital cog in the city’s local governance and Strasbourg is considered as a genuine laboratory Dans les villes et compagnie
for innovative local democracy. Venez vous informer et débattre dans le bus de la démocratie locale DU 6 AU 15 OCTOBRE 2011 Plus d’informations sur www.strasbourg.eu
Strasbourg « ville 12 étoiles » partenaire du Conseil de l’Europe
trasbourg has a duty to meet the needs of all its citizens, throughout the different 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, offering a wide range of housing, improving public spaces and developing services for the districts’ 30,000 inhabitants
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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 staff. 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 offer multilingual teaching, while 25 schools offer a bilingual French/ German education. In 2008, France’s first European school opened in the city, catering for pupils of nursery school age right up to those taking the European baccalaureat
Strasbourg A new quality-of-life
Strasbourg, a hub of social solidarity
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ith its long tradition of social solidarity, Strasbourg has developed specific 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. The 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. This 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 difficulties 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
Sport with a capital S
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trasbourg offers a comprehensive range of sports facilities. The city has some 220 clubs, where a total of 128 different sports are played, with the young and families a special focus. The city has its own sports school, while local schools offer 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. The 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. The city’s sports development programme is set to confirm 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.
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oing sport has never been easier in Strasbourg
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Strasbourg The city with 9000 events
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useums, 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.
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Strasbourg The city with 9000 events
Strasbourg dances, acts, composes, paints and sings all the greatest opera arias. With over 9000 events every year, the city is a flagship for cultural expression.
he 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
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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 flag bearer for music in Strasbourg.
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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
he city offers 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 IllkirchGraffenstaden, 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
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
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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
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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
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
Strasbourg A lifestyle shared with the world
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trasbourg’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.
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Strasbourg A lifestyle shared with the world
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The red carpet for conventioneers
A broad range of hotels
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ttracting foreign visitors means
offering a wide range of hotel accommodation. The 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
Christmas in Strasbourg
Food and wine
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ome 4 million people visit Strasbourg every year, including 2 million at Christmas. Come December, 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, admiring the Christmas lights, eating the delicious traditional Alsatian Christmas biscuits and cakes, visiting the kids village and listening to music. There’s a surprise every minute in the streets of Christmas entertainment, friendship, music and laughter
trasbourg has an extraordinary reputation for food and wine and is home to some of France’s finest and most inventive chefs.
Alsatian food is classic French regional cuisine, with choucroute, baeckeoffe, tarte flambée, spaetzle, foie gras and many other mouthwatering specialties. Traditional food is often best eaten in the famous local winstubs, with their lively, friendly atmosphere. The city has hundreds of restaurants, with influences from all over the world
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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.
The Palais des Congrès conference centre offers 50 000 m2 of space for events of all kinds.
The programme includes a renovated and redesigned conference centre and a new Exhibition Park in the centre of the European district 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). The new district is located right next to the European Parliament and will feature offices, business centres, shops, a hotel complex and 250 housing units.
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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
Designed and produced by : : Les Explorateurs Edited by : : Eric Pilarczyk
Ville et Communauté urbaine 1 parc de l’Étoile 67076 Strasbourg Cedex - France
Telephone : +33 (0)3 88 60 90 90 Email : courrier@strasbourg.eu Internet : www.strasbourg.eu
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