On September 26 1778, Mozart left Paris and took the postal diligence to Strasbourg which led him to the Alsatian capital where he arrived on October 10 1778 at the post house of the Cour du Corbeau. He discovered a garrison town with a heterogeneous aspect and in which half-timbered houses were next to luxurious buildings in the 18th-century French style.
The cultural atmosphere was intense. The Strasbourg University had a European influence that attracted students like Goethe or Metternich.
The city excelled in arts, especially in vermeil silversmith’s trade, in stained-glass windows, Hannong china and crockery, the building of organs (with the Silbermann dynasty), furniture and panelling in rococo style, etc…
An intellectual and cultural melting-pot, Strasbourg was the symbol of the Europe of the Enlightenment and the Aufklärung.

On October 17, Mozart gave a piano recital at the Poêle du Miroir, in the room now called “Salle Mozart” or at the Mauresse. Prince Max de Deux-Ponts attended the concert.
On October 24 and 31, Mozart gave a big concert with orchestra at the Comédie française which was burnt down in 1800.
During his stay, Mozart also played in public on the Silbermann organs of the Temple Neuf church that was destroyed by a fire 1870 (rebuilt in 1874) and in Saint-Thomas, the church where the Marshal of Saxe rests. His tomb made by Pigalle, was unveiled in 1777.
On Novembre 3, Mozart left Strasbourg and went to Mannheim.
He brought with him a popular Alsatian tune which became the theme of the 3rd movement of his 4th concerto for violin and orchestra.

A few of the Alsatian personalities met by Mozart:Prince Max de Deux-Ponts (1756-1825), a colonel of the Royal Alsace, lord of Ribeaupierre, future king of Bavaria (1806).
Jean-André Silbermann (1712-1783), an organ builder and his brother, Jean-Henri (1727-1789), specialised in the building of piano-forte. Franz-Xavier Richter (1709-1789), choirmaster of the cathedral, a follower of the Mannheim school. Mozart dreamt for a short time of replacing Richter, but Ignaz Pleyel inherited the post.
Sixtus Hepp (1732-1806), a student of the composer Jommeli, an organist of the Temple Neuf.
Johann Baptist Wendling (1723-1797), a composer and famous flute virtuoso born in Ribeauvillé. Mozart created the role of Ilia in Idoménée for his wife Dorothea, an opera singer as well as ariettas for his daughter Elizabeth Augusta.
Franz Anton Wendling (1729-1786), a violinist, brother of the former; Mozart created the role of Electre in Idoménée for his wife, Elizabeth Augusta.
Franz Heinrich Ziegenhagen (1732-1806), a Strasbourgeois utopian freemason; Mozart set his poem A little German cantata K619 to music.
Philippe-Jacques Franck (1715-1780), a merchant and banker, a freemason and one of the wealthiest and most influential personalities in the city.

Bas-Rhin is a French département, named after the Rhine river.