Strasbourg and Heidelberg

Strasbourg, France and Heidelberg Germany 2011
Picture 01 Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France.
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Picture 02 Located close to the border with Germany, the city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking, explaining the city's Germanic name.
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Picture 03 Strasbourg is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany, across from the German town Kehl.
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Picture 04 Flowing through the city of Strasbourg, the Ill River forms part of the 17th century fortifications and passes through a series of locks and channels in the...
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Picture 05 Ill River is a left-side, or western tributary of the Rhine.
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Picture 06 Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament.
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Picture 07 Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait, a charming square that is surrounded by different types of houses.
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Picture 08 Christmas decorations hanging outside buildings.
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Picture 09 Place de la Cathédrale in Strasbourg is surrounded by a variety of buildings of different architectural styles.
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Picture 10 Maison Kammerzel, well preserved medieval building, built in 1427, now houses a restaurant, Place de la Cathédrale
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Picture 11 Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg
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Picture 12 Giant gingerbread man at Place de la Cathédrale
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Picture 13 Strasbourg Cathedral is the sixth-tallest church in the world.
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Picture 14 Construction of Strasbourg Cathedral started in 1015 and completed in 1439.
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Picture 15 French poet and novelist Victor Hugo described the church as a 'gigantic and delicate marvel'.
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Picture 16 Strasbourg Cathedral's west facade.
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Picture 17 Sandstone from the Vosges used in construction gives the Strasbourg Cathedral its characteristic pink hue.
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Picture 18 One of the portals at the west facade, viewed from Place de la Cathédrale.
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Picture 19 The famous west facade, decorated with thousands of figures, is a masterpiece of the Gothic era. Also a resting place for the pigeons.
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Picture 20 The Cathedral was damaged during air raids on Strasbourg's center on 11 August 1944 and the last war damages were only repaired in the early 1990s.
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