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Strasbourg (German: Straßburg) was the capital of the province of Alsace-Lorraine, on the Franco-German border. For centuries contested between the two nations, the city was annexed to Germany in 1871 following the Franco-Prussian War. It is well known for its Gothic cathedral and picturesque half-timbered buildings.

Canon references[]

"The Final Problem"[]

After fleeing England to escape from Professor James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson travel through Europe, first to Brussels and then to Strasbourg. Here, Holmes receives a telegram that informs him that Moriarty has escaped from the London police. Assuming that Moriarty will come for him, Holmes tries to convince Watson to return to England; however, Watson insists on staying with his friend, and they leave the city immediately for Switzerland.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows[]

In October 1891, a festival in Strasbourg celebrating the 20th anniversary of the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine into Germany was the scene of a terrorist bombing that killed numerous people. The attack received wide newspaper coverage, with one paper referring to it as the "Horror in Strasbourg". Though variously blamed on anarchists or French nationalists, it was in fact orchestrated by Moriarty and was intended to destabilize relations between France and Germany. It was also one of a series of incidents that helped Sherlock Holmes become aware of the vast, Europe-wide conspiracy led by the professor.

Alfred Meinhard's assassination was widely seen as a retaliation for this event, although in fact both were orchestrated by Moriarty.

Trivia[]

  • Strasbourg is today once again French, having been regained following Germany's defeat in World War I; in fact, the desire to retake the city and Alsace-Lorraine was a major reason for France participating in the war in the first place.
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