Discount Hotels Strasbourg
Historical interest: Strasbourg
    
Strasbourg has seen a long and scattered history; being so close to Germany, it
was occupied more than once. A somewhat comical, if not ironic, story lies in
the naming of the streets. One street is a perfect illustration of the city's
identity crisis: more than a century ago, the street was aptly named Avenue Napoléon;
in 1871, it became Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse; then it was called Boulevard de la République
in 1918; and in 1940, it became Adolf-Hitler-Strasse. Today, it is Avenue du Général-de-Gaulle
(since 1945).
The earlier history of Strasbourg began in 12 BC, when the Romans chose Strasbourg
as the site for their military camp on the Rhine and named it Argentoratum.
1434-44 was an important time in the history of the city; Johannes Gutenberg
resided in Strasbourg, perfecting his printing press with moveable metal type.
In 1566, Strasbourg University was founded; it was attended through the years
by the likes of Goethe, Napoléon and Pasteur. Today, some 40,000 students
follow in their footsteps.
In 1681, Strasbourg was placed under French rule when the city was subjugated
by Louis XIV and his army. It remained under French rule for quite some time.
In 1770-71, German poet and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe studied law
in Strasbourg.
The year 1870 saw Strasbourg handed back to the German Empire, but only until
1918, when it regained its French nationality. However, the Germans could not
be kept at bay, and in 1940 they once again occupied Strasbourg.
Finally, in 1944, the city was liberated under General Leclerc, and was later
chosen to be the headquarters of the Council of Europe. Today, the city enjoys
a stable economy, with a healthy number of tourists visiting throughout the
year.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Sofitel Strasbourg | | Hilton Strasbourg | | Hotel Monopole Metropole | | Quality Hotel and Suites | | Mercure Carlton | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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