Strasbourg (German Strassburg), city in eastern France, capital of Bas-Rhin Department, at the confluence of the Bruche and Ill rivers, near the Rhine River and Germany, in Alsace. Strasbourg is a commercial, manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center. The city is noted for the production of pâté de foie gras; other products include refined petroleum, machinery, metal goods, printed materials, and electrical and electronic equipment. Strasbourg is served by a major port on the Rhine River.
The Ill River divides at Strasbourg and its arms and canals surround the oval-shaped central district which is the old section of the city. The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame of Strasbourg is situated in the southeastern part of the old quarter. Construction of the cathedral was begun about 1015, but only the crypt and part of the choir remain from this period. The Romanesque choir dates from the 11th and 12th centuries; the Gothic nave was reconstructed in 1275, and the western facade, begun in 1270, has a tall spire that was completed in 1439. Other features of the cathedral include stained-glass windows, an astronomic clock, and numerous sculptures. Among additional points of interest in the city are the Gothic church of Saint Thomas (13th-14th century); the Palais de Rohan (1731-1741), now housing the municipal art museum; and the Hôtel du Commerce, the best example of Renaissance architecture in Strasbourg.
