| Lower Rhine | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Alsace |
| Capital | Strasbourg |
| Surface | 4 755 km² |
| Inhabitants | 1 104 667 (2012 census) |
| Institutional website | |
The Lower Rhine, or Bas-Rhin in French, is a department French in Alsace.
To know
The Lower Rhine is at the crossroads of several regions and departments in the Northeastern France as the Moselle, L'Upper Rhine is Meurthe-et-Moselle not to mention the - always problematic - borders with the Germany whose influence and often real territorial belonging has characterized the region. It is also located between the two mountain ranges of the gods Vosges to the west and of the Black Forest East.
The Lower Rhine is incredibly interesting because it is the seat of many European institutions, in an area traditionally at the center of interests of several states and therefore presents itself as an ideal destination to understand today's Europe by going straight to its nerve center.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Strasbourg (Strasbourg) - Capital of the region and European capital, it has hosted the European Parliament since 1992.
- Avolsheim
- Barr
- Bietlenheim
- Dachstein
- Dinsheim-sur-Bruche
- Duppigheim
- Haguenau
- Molsheim
- Obernai
- Saverne
- Sélestat
- Wissembourg
How to get
By plane
- Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport
By car
- A4 motorway from Paris towards Strasbourg
- A35 motorway that runs through Alsace from the south to Strasbourg
On the train
There is the Paris-Strasbourg high-speed train which takes about 2 and a half hours.
How to get around
What see
Itineraries
The European institutions
- The European Parliament: the treaty signed in Edinburgh in 1992 made Strasbourg the definitive seat of Parliament with the seat inaugurated in 1999. With a total area of 220,000 square meters, and the semicircle shape with a capacity of 750 seats it hosts the plenary sessions of our representatives and it is a crucial place for the political life of the entire European Union.
- The European Council: Palazzo Europa, designed by the architect Henry Bernard and inaugurated in 1977, houses the Council of Europe. Founded in 1949, it is the oldest European institution. Its role is to develop standards, charters and conventions to facilitate and strengthen European integration.
- There European Court of Human Rights : or more simply Strasbourg Court was founded in 1959 as required by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court has a duty to ensure compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. However, it can only act if the failing country has ratified the Convention and the individual protocols. It has been based in Strasbourg since 1998 in a building designed by the architect Richard Rogers.
All these institutions can be visited with prior authorization.
The castles
- Haut-Koenigsbourg: located almost 800 meters, the castle offers a panorama of the plain of Alsace. Built in the 12th century, it saw a succession of illustrious owners, including the Habsburg dynasty and the German emperor Wilhelm II.
- Fleckenstein: built in the 12th century, the castle dominates the forests of the Vosges and was a mecca in the Middle Ages in Alsace. Many activities are offered by the castle managers such as, for example, a large tournament of 20 different games distributed in the forest and in the secret rooms of the castle to discover the life of the Alsatian Middle Ages.
- Lichtenberg Castle: built in the early 13th century on a hill overlooking the village, the site offers a wide spectrum of cultural activities.
What to do
At the table
Safety
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Lower Rhine
Commons contains images or other files on Lower Rhine
