Wander The Stunningly Beautiful Palais Rohan De Strasbourg

Those who have found a vacation rental in Alsace should definitely set aside some time to go and explore the stunning city of Strasbourg. Over 2,000 years old, it is located in the east of France, on the border between France and Germany. As a border city, it is a mish-mash of different cultural influences and is also UNESCO-awarded and famously lovely. The Old Town is a maze of pretty little streets lined in buildings that represent a variety of different periods and architectural styles from the Middle Ages to the period of the Art Nouveau era and half-timbered houses and explosions of colourful blooms line the waterways located throughout the city. All in all, it is simply utterly picturesque and steeped in history and culture. It is gasp-inducingly pretty and it is well-worth spending a day or two wandering around and taking in all that it has to offer.

One of the most beautiful highlights of this gorgeous place is the Palais Rohan de Strasbourg. A former residence of the prince-bishops and the cardinals of the House of Rohan, which was an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany, it is now one of the city’s most important (if not the most important) landmarks and attractions. Located next to the Cathedral of Strasbourg, it is a masterclass in the French Baroque and an exceptional beauty.

Commissioned in 1727 by Cardinal Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan, the palace was designed according to plans by the architect Robert de Cotte, who had previously worked on the Cardinal’s castle in Saverne. Built on the site of the former bishop’s residence in the city, which can be traced back in written record to at least 1262, work began in 1732 and was completed in 1742, under the supervision of the municipal architect Joseph Masso. The team of incredible artists and artisans to help complete the building is reflected in the stunning end result: Masso was assisted by the architects Laurent Gourlade and Étienne Le Chevalier; sculptures, statues, and reliefs were provided by Robert Le Lorrain, Johann August Nahl, Gaspard Pollet, and Laurent Leprince; paintings were produced by Pierre Ignace Parrocel and Robert de Séry; and stucco was completed by Italian masters called Castelli and Morsegno, to name just some of the known team involved. The whole endeavour cost around one million livres with 200,000 having been received from the Cathedral chapter and 144,000 raised through local taxation over twelve years.

The palace was designed to resemble one of the great mansions of Paris and, accordingly, went on to become one of the finest architectural creations of 18th century France. It has remained largely untouched, aside from the loss of some artworks and furniture, since it was built, despite the changes in owners and use over the years. After the French Revolution, it was confiscated and became state property and was then used as the town hall. In 1805, the local municipality gave it to Napoleon, who made it into a dwelling once more and was delighted by the display of grandeur that was the palace. Napoleon returned the Hôtel de Hanau in exchange, which suited the municipality as the maintenance of the Hôtel de Hanau was far less costly than that of the sprawling Palais Rohan.

The palace was later also used by the newly established Kaiser-Wilhelms-Universität, the Imperial German version of the University of Strasbourg, as the seat of the faculties of law, philosophy, and sciences, then was the seat of the university's library until the opening of the National and University Library in 1895, and, finally, became home to the municipal art collections. It is now home to three of the city’s most important museums: the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Archéologique, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs. That’s a lot of culture and a lot to see all under one exceptionally beautiful roof! Come see all that it has to offer if you have found a holiday rental in Alsace and want to experience one of the most exceptional cultural gems in all of France.


Palais Rohan
2, Place du Château
67076 Strasbourg, France
+33 (0)3 88 52 50 00
+33 (0)3 88 88 50 68


Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Archéologique, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs:
Open daily (except Tuesday), from 10am to 6pm.
Tickets: €4/€2 (reduced rate) & €5/€2.50 for temporary exhibitions.