Strasbourg feels German due to its centuries-long history as part of the Holy Roman Empire and later the German Empire, with the border frequently shifting. Situated in the Alsace region, it was a German-speaking city until annexed by France in 1681. Its architecture (half-timbered houses), cuisine, and local Alsatian dialect are deeply rooted in Germanic culture.
Strasbourg is one of the most multilingual cities in France. French is the official language, but German is taught in schools, Alsatian (a regional Germanic dialect) is still spoken by elders, and English is widely used in EU institutions.
In 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War, the city, as part of the Imperial Territory of Alsace–Lorraine, became German again, until 1918 (end of World War I), when it reverted to France.
The city was originally a Celtic village, and under the Romans it became a garrison town called Argentoratum. It was captured in the 5th century by the Franks, who called it Strateburgum, from which the present name is derived.
Alsace was originally a part of the Holy German Empire in the Middle Ages, then came into France's orbit in the 17th and 18th centuries through a combination of military conquests by France and personal interest from Alsace's elites.
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Do people in Alsace still speak German?
According to France's Culture Ministry, there are 650,000 Alsatian dialect speakers, as well as 230,000 people who speak it occasionally. It is estimated that as much as a half of the population speaks German dialect. All also speak French, and some speak High German.
The French people, especially the native speakers of langues d'oïl from northern and central France, are primarily descended from Romans (or Gallo-Romans, western European Celtic and Italic peoples), Gauls (including the Belgae), as well as Germanic peoples such as the Franks, the Visigoths, the Suebi and the ...
On the other hand, Northern Germany is considered to be the region that speaks the purest Standard German, and in everyday life, little influence of dialect is heard.
The lispy th is absent in French, as it is in many other languages, which leads to its classic alternative, the z. “Zis is ze zermometer” (this is the thermometer).
Today around 16,000 Jews reside in Strasbourg but their history is similar to the rest of France and Europe with several expulsions, accusations, forced-baptisms and deaths. Alsace became part of France in 1648, but Jews still did not have civil rights until after the French Revolution.
Alsatian is a Germanic dialect spoken in Alsace. Even though the French government forbade the use of Germanic languages in schools in 1945, the dialect saw something of a revival in the 1970s when a number of independent movements fought against the state's crackdown on regional languages.
You can hardly go to Strasbourg without enjoying some traditional choucroute, an iconic dish. A few restaurants in Strasbourg have built up a great reputation for themselves with this speciality. The tarte flambée, served all-you-can-eat, is another local speciality you'll want to try.
In August 1944, several buildings in the Old Town were damaged by bombs, particularly the Palais Rohan, the Old Customs House (Ancienne Douane) and the Cathedral. On 23 November 1944, the city was officially liberated by the 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc.
Alsatian (Alsatian: Elsässisch or Elsässerditsch "Alsatian German"; Lorraine Franconian: Elsässerdeitsch; French: Alsacien; German: Elsässisch or Elsässerdeutsch) is the group of Alemannic German and Franconian dialects spoken in most of Alsace, a formerly disputed region in eastern France that has passed between ...
Yes, the French absolutely say "je voudrais" (I would like), especially in polite situations like ordering food or making requests, but natives often use more casual, common alternatives like "je prends" (I'll have/take) or "je vais prendre" (I'm going to have/take) for everyday ordering. While "je veux" (I want) is grammatically correct, it's considered too direct and impolite for most social interactions, making je voudrais a staple for polite requests.
While "Germany" is a more general term that refers to the entire country, the name "Deutschland" is specifically linked to the language and culture of Germany. The titles of Deutschland called Germany also reflect the distinctions between the German and English languages in terms of linguistic implications.
The cultural context in France shows that 5 out of 10 men and 4 out of 10 women admit to cheating on their partners. This situation raises concerns that allowing DNA tests to be conducted freely could tear apart families. Consequently, a law exists to preserve family peace.
George Clooney and his family became French citizens primarily for the strong privacy laws protecting children from paparazzi, a desire for a normal upbringing away from Hollywood's glare, and to acknowledge their substantial residence and contributions to France, with the French government citing his cultural influence and his wife Amal's work as reasons for fast-tracking their citizenship. They purchased a farm in Provence, France, and sought French nationality to raise their twins in a calmer environment with better protection from media intrusion.
