The commune of Strasbourg proper had a population of 290,576 on 1 January 2020, the result of a constant moderate annual growth which is also reflected in the constant growth of the number of students at its university (e. g. from 42,000 students in 2010 to 52,000 students in 2019). The metropolitan area of Strasbourg had a population of 853,110 inhabitants in 2019 (French side of the border only), while the transnational Eurodistrict had a population of 1,000,000 in 2022. In the Middle Ages, Strasbourg (a Free imperial city since 1262), was an important town. According to a 1444 census, the population was circa 20,000; only one third less than Cologne, then a major European city. Population growth Population composition Culture Strasbourg is the seat of internationally renowned institutions of music and drama: The Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, founded in 1855, one of the oldest symphonic orchestras in western Europe. Based since 1975 in the Palais de la musique et des congrès. The Opéra national du Rhin The Théâtre national de Strasbourg The Percussions de Strasbourg The Théâtre du Maillon The "Laiterie" Joshy's house - a venue for performance poetry and freestyle urban music. Au Zénith Other theatres are the Théâtre jeune public, the TAPS Scala, the Kafteur ... Events Musica, international festival of contemporary classical music (autumn) Festival international de Strasbourg (founded in 1932), festival of classical music and jazz (summer) Festival des Artefacts, festival of contemporary non-classical music Les Nuits électroniques de l'Ososphère Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival is an annual film festival devoted to science fiction, horror and fantasy. It was known as the Spectre Film Festival before 2008. The Strasbourg International Film Festival is an annual film festival focusing on new and emerging independent filmmakers from around the world. Christkindelsmärik, held from the end of November through December, is an annual Christmas market that dates back to 1570. Education Universities and tertiary education Strasbourg, well known as centre of humanism, has a long history of excellence in higher-education, at the crossroads of French and German intellectual traditions. Although Strasbourg had been annexed by the Kingdom of France in 1683, it still remained connected to the German-speaking intellectual world throughout the 18th century, and the university attracted numerous students from the Holy Roman Empire, with Goethe, Metternich and Montgelas, who studied law in Strasbourg, among the most prominent. With 19 Nobel prizes in total, Strasbourg is the