Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking, explaining the city's Germanic name.

Nicknamed 'Capital of Christmas', Strasbourg has a long history of hosting open-air festivities during the holidays, having thrown its first Christmas market in 1570. The scale and scope of the Strasbourg Christmas market is impressive: for one month, 300 winter chalets are spread over 11 sites within the city center, making is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. During the holiday season, the city is illuminated by hundreds of kilometers of Christmas lights and decorations, and features a children's village and more than 500 concerts, events, and shows. Strasbbourg was voted the best Christmas market in Europe 2013 by tens of thousands of voters.

Culturally, Strasbourg's city center, the Grande Île (Grand Island), was classified a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center. Strasbourg is fused into the Franco-German culture, acting as a bridge of unity between France and Germany for centuries. The largest Islamic place of worship in France, the Strasbourg Grand Mosque, was inaugurated by French Interior Minister Manuel Valls on 27 September 2012.

Economically, Strasbourg is an important center of manufacturing and engineering, as well as of road, rail, and river communications. The port of Strasbourg is the second largest on the Rhine after Duisburg, Germany. Strasbourg has been ranked third in France and 18th globally for innovation.