Grand Est

Regional capital: Strasbourg

Departments: Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Marne, Marne, Meurthe-Et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges

Main Cities: Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Colmar, Reims, Troyes, Nancy, Charleville-Mézières, Metz, Thionville

Property prices

Median prices per m2 for non-newbuild apartments in the third quarter of 2025: Strasbourg €3,410 -0.1%, Reims €2,600 +1.7%

Median prices of non-newbuild houses in the third quarter of 2025: Strasbourg n/a, Reims €248,000 +3.6%

(figures taken from the most recently available French property report (Jan 26) from the Notaires de France, % year-on-year change: July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025 / July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024)

Character of the region

The only region in France to have a common border with four easily accessible countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland), Grand-Est was formed on January 1, 2016 from a merger of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine, and is known as a region anchored in national, European and global trade dynamics. I

Its largest city, the regional capital Strasbourg, is home to several EU institutions, including the European Parliament and the Court of Human Rights. Its picturesque historic center, the Grande Ile, was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1988.

France’s most north-easterly region has warm, relatively sunny summers and cold, overcast winters. It is home to the celebrated wine-making regions of Champagne and Alsace.

Given the political importance of its capital, it is no surprise that the region enjoys good transport links. The region boasts several English-language international schools, mostly based in Strasbourg.

Population/density

5.5 million people across 57,441 sq km* (Insee figures 2022 [latest available]) = 8.4% of the population

Fact: 30% of the population is aged under 25 years

Weather

Cool winters (January average 3C) with potential for snow in mountainous areas including ski resorts / mild summers (July average 20C).

Local industries

While 80% of land is dedicated to agriculture and forestry, the region has competitive production sectors (agrifood industries, industrial and agricultural machinery, automotive industry, chemical and pharmaceutical products, metallurgical and mechanical products), making it the second-largest exporting region after Île-de-France and the first in volume per capita.

Cities and towns

The region’s five major urban areas (Metz, Mulhouse, Nancy, Reims and Strasbourg) each have more than 250,000 inhabitants – elsewhere its rural character encompasses 5,121 municipalities, of which 91% have fewer than 2,000 inhabitants.

Food and drink

Champagne, wine (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris), choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with meats), quiche Lorraine, Flammekueche (also known as tarte flambée - a pizza-like dish with cream, lardons and onions), pink wafer Reims biscuits

Cultural points of interest

Strasbourg (UNESCO-listed Old Town), champagne houses in and around Reims, historical remembrance sites (inc. Verdun), Christmas markets 

Major transport points

Airports: Strasbourg Airport (SXB), EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL/MLH), and Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport (ETZ).

Trains: the region has several railway stations, including those in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Reims. TGV trains connect Paris with Strasbourg (1hr 44mn).

Motorways: key motorways include the A4 (Paris-Strasbourg), A26 (Calais-Troyes), A31 (Beaune-Luxembourg), and A35 (Strasbourg-Basel)