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Located in the heart of Europe, Alsace has a unique geographical position. Just a few hours by car from the magnificent highways separate you from Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg – countries that have signed the Schengen agreement on single visa space, as well as from Switzerland and Austria.

1) Justifying the title of Strasbourg – “crossroads”, Alsace became a trading crossroads and one of the leading centers of business life in France and Europe.

2) He ranks first among French regions in terms of exports.

3) In the Alsace region has more than 30,000 small-and medium-sized enterprises, many of whom began a fruitful collaboration with their Russian counterparts.

4) Alsace and attractive to foreign investors. There are already based more than 800 foreign companies.

5) Twice a year, spring and autumn, in Strasbourg held trade fair of the European scale, as well as numerous exhibitions and salons that are of interest for the business tourism from Russia.

6) For centuries, the capital of Alsace, Salzburg several times changed his homeland.

7) Strasbourg belongs to France since 1918 (except for the period 1941-1944.). Well-preserved old town – a Gothic cathedral XI-th century Protestant Church Saint Pierre le Jeune, Museum of Fine Arts with its rich collection of XV-th century

through the picturesque valleys and mountains of Alsace, come to lie one of the landmarks of France – the famous wine road, 170 kilometers in length, particularly famous for its white wines selective “Gevyurtstramminer ‘,’ Sylvaner ‘and’ Muscat.

9) Not far from the wine road is the city Sults, where the ancestral castle of Baron d’Anthes.

10) continued his journey, you’ll discover Alsace as a territory, keeping the centuries-old historical tradition

11) Here, the famous hill of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace, you will be able to witness the remains of the mysterious caves of the priests of the forest – the Druids and the Celtic era buildings.

12) This is one of the holiest places of Alsace that holds the memory of the miraculous healing the blind daughter of the Duke Etinona (VII century), Odile, to found a monastery and later became a patron of Alsace. This monastery and is now a place of pilgrimage, and in the picturesque foothills of the still throbbing with the water, who was believed to heal the eye.

13) Alsace, longtime bone of contention between France and Germany, became a successful fusion of the German character and elegance of the French

14) There is even talk in a special Alsatian dialect of French, although in practice the French and German in Alsace, Bilingual equivalent

15) The emblem of the region – a stork, immortalized by local painter Annecy – Jean-Jacques Waltz (1873-1951).

16) At every turn sold here are numerous postcards and posters with a picture of this bird.

17) It is assumed that the homes on the roof of which it is spring Viet huge – up to two meters in diameter – Socket comes prosperity. In the 60 years in the Alsace region near panic caused a decrease population of storks. And today they are still loved, despite the threat of bird flu.

17) It is assumed that the homes on the roof of which it is spring Viet huge – up to two meters in diameter – Socket comes prosperity. In the 60 years in the Alsace region near panic caused a decrease population of storks. And today they are still loved, despite the threat of bird flu.

19) about what has happened to Alsace, where, incidentally, was created by the national anthem of France – “La Marseillaise.” His words were penned in 1792, Captain Corps of Engineers Claude Joseph Rouget de Lille. Then it was called “battle song Rhine Army” and was intended to raise the morale of the French revolutionaries in the struggle against the Cavaliers. Later became so popular among the volunteer corps of Marseille, which was renamed “La Marseillaise.” For many years there is controversy between supporters and opponents of the “Marseillaise.” The first has recently been made compulsory study it in school to “maintain the credibility of the republican character.” Opponents accuse the revolutionary song “Bloodlust”, referring to the verse “let impure blood irrigate our fields!”.

20) And what a bite? Alsace, among other things – the birthplace of the goose liver. Favorite dish gourmet foie gras – goose liver is a solid or ducks, which are hung in a cage close to the ceiling and fed grains oilseeds, nuts and corn.

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