    alsace ( ; alsatian: âs elsass ; german: elsass, pre-1996 also: elsaÃ ; ) is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of france in land area (8,280.2&nbsp;km2), and the smallest in metropolitan france. it is also the seventh-most densely populated region in france and third most densely populated region in metropolitan france, with ca. 224 inhabitants per km2 (total population in 2006: 1,815,488; 1 january 2011 estimate: 1,852,325). alsace is located on france's eastern border and on the west bank of the upper rhine adjacent to germany and switzerland. historical decisions, wars, and strategic politics have resulted in alsace being administered as a "region" within the republic of france. the political, economic and cultural capital as well as largest city of alsace is strasbourg. because that city is the seat of [[european institutions
Alsace Germanic_countries_and_territories NUTS_2_statistical_regions_of_the_European_Union Regions_of_France Wine_regions_of_France