Alsace

Region and former province of France; area 8,280 sq km/3,197 sq mi; population (1999 est) 1,734,100. It consists of the départements of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin; its administrative centre is Strasbourg, which is the seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. Alsace has much rich agricultural land, particularly between the River Rhine and the Vosges mountains. Vineyards dot the low-lying areas that rise up from the Rhine, and Alsace is noted for its white wines. The region also produces about half the beer consumed in France.

History
Of Celtic origin, Alsace became part of the Roman province of Upper Germany, then fell to the Alemanni in the 5th century and to the Franks in 496. Following a period during which the region's principal cities enjoyed virtual independence (from the 13th century), Alsace became part of France through the Treaty of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years' War. In 1871 Alsace and the northern part of the province of Lorraine were annexed to Germany, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Alsace remained in German hands until 1919 when it returned to French sovereignty. During World War II Alsace was again under German control, but in 1945 it was returned to France.