Alsace is the fourth-smallest of the 26
regions of France in land area (8,280 km²), and the smallest
in metropolitan France. It is also the sixth-most densely
populated region in France and third most densely populated
region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per
km² (total population in 2006: 1,815,488; January 1, 2008
estimate: 1,836,000). Alsace is located on France's eastern
border and on the west bank of the upper Rhine adjacent to
Germany and Switzerland. The political, economic and cultural
capital as well as largest city of Alsace is Strasbourg. Due
to that city being the seat of dozens of international
organizations and bodies, Alsace is politically one of the
most important regions in the European Union.
The name "Alsace" derives from the Germanic Ell-sass, meaning
"Seated on the Ill", a river in Alsace. The region was
historically part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was gradually
annexed by France in the 17th century under kings Louis XIII
and Louis XIV and made one of the provinces of France. Alsace
is frequently mentioned in conjunction with Lorraine, because
German possession of parts of these two régions (as the
imperial province Alsace-Lorraine, 1871–1918) was contested in
the 19th and 20th centuries, during which Alsace changed hands
four times between France and Germany in 75 years.
Although Alsace is historically a German dialect speaking
region, today most Alsatians speak French, the official
language of the country they have been a part of for most of
the past three centuries. However, about 39% of the local
adult population, but probably less than 10% of the children,
are still fluent in the Alsatian language.