Monuments

Statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber on Place Kléber

Strasbourg

The Statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber is a historical monument located on Place Kléber in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. The monument commemorates General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, who was assassinated in Cairo on June 14, 1800. His remains were transported from Egypt to Château d’If near Marseille, then transferred in 1838 to a vault in Place d’Armes, later renamed Place Kléber. A bronze statue was installed above the vault, and the monument was inaugurated on June 14, 1840.

The statue depicts Kléber holding the letter from Admiral George Keith Elphinstone ordering him to leave Egypt, with a sphinx behind him representing Egypt. The mausoleum includes four plaques on its facades showing the battles of Héliopolis and Altenkirchen, together with a short biography and an epitaph. The monument has been associated with military commemorations and events, and it is also noted as a symbol of France and Alsace.

Map showing the location of Statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber in Strasbourg
Location of Statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber in Strasbourg

Nearby Objects

Location and Monument Status

The statue of Jean-Baptiste Kleber is located on Place Kleber in Strasbourg, in the Bas-Rhin department of France. It is described as a historical monument. The available information identifies its public setting and its protected status, placing it within the urban heritage of Strasbourg's central square.

History of the Kleber Monument

General Jean-Baptiste Kleber was assassinated in Cairo on June 14, 1800, by Soleyman el-Halaby. According to Historique, Napoleon feared that Kleber's tomb would become a Republican pilgrimage site. After French troops left Egypt, Kleber's remains were transported to Che2teau d'If near Marseille, where they remained until 1814. In 1838, the remains were transferred to a vault in Place d'Armes, which was renamed Place Kleber, in Strasbourg. A bronze statue of General Jean-Baptiste Kleber was installed above the vault, and the monument was inaugurated on June 14, 1840. Historique also records multiple relocations of Kleber's remains during the 20th century, including a transfer by Nazi authorities to the Cronenbourg military cemetery during World War II. The monument was classified as a historic monument in 1946 and declassified in 1952.

Historique describes the statue as a symbol of France and Alsace, and notes its central role in military commemorations and events. In winter, the statue faces the grand Christmas market fir tree in Strasbourg. The name General Kleber was also given to a quay, a high school, and a college in Strasbourg.

Architectural Features and Commemorative Elements

The monument combines a statue and mausoleum dedicated to General Jean-Baptiste Kleber. The statue shows Kleber holding the letter from Admiral George Keith Elphinstone ordering him to leave Egypt, while a sphinx behind the officer refers to Egypt, where Kleber served during Napoleon's military expedition. The statue surmounts the vault where Kleber's ashes rest. On the mausoleum facades, four plaques present the battles of Heliopolis and Altenkirchen associated with Kleber. The plaques also include a short biography and an epitaph, making the monument both a burial place and a commemorative structure.