Located on Place de la République in Strasbourg, the Palais du Rhin is a major landmark of the urban landscape. The palace is dominated by a large dome and is surrounded by a broad garden enclosed by ornate wrought iron fences, with the old stables standing behind the building. Designed by Hermann Eggert between 1883 and 1888, it forms part of a major urban redevelopment project undertaken by the German Empire after the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. The quadrilateral, three-level building was conceived as the Palais de l’Empereur, expressing the permanent establishment of the II Reich in Alsace. Its Germanic neo-Renaissance architecture includes statuary, bossages, a loggia, and a fronton. The interior decoration was partially reconstructed, and the monumental staircase is a key architectural feature. The palace has since served several functions, including as the official residence of the German Emperor, a military hospital, the Nazi Kommandatur, and the headquarters for Leclerc. Since 1920, it has housed the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine.
Nearby Objects
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Place de la République 120 m away -
Monument aux morts 120 m away -
Strasbourg Opera House 200 m away -
Opéra national du Rhin 200 m away -
Architecture and Historical Uses
The Palais du Rhin is located in Strasbourg on the Place de la Republique, where it dominates the square with a large dome. It is surrounded by a large garden with ornate wrought iron fences, and old stables stand behind the building. As part of a major urban redevelopment project by the German Empire after the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, it forms one of the most complete and emblematic examples of late German architecture.
The building was originally the official residence of the German Emperor. Its later uses reflect changing political and administrative contexts: it served as a military hospital, was used as the Nazi Kommandatur, and later served as the headquarters for Leclerc. Since 1920, it has housed the headquarters of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine. This long sequence of functions gives the Palais du Rhin a strong historical significance beyond its architectural prominence.
Architecture and Interior Layout
The Palais du Rhin was designed by Hermann Eggert between 1883 and 1888 as a quadrilateral building with three levels. It was conceived as the Palais de l'Empereur, expressing the permanent establishment of the II Reich in Alsace. Its exterior used a Germanic neo-Renaissance style with statuary, bossages, a loggia, and a fronton. The interior decoration was partially reconstructed, and the monumental staircase formed one of the palace's key architectural features.
The ground floor included an entrance hall opening onto two elevated side vestibules. Double apartments were arranged for a princely couple to the south and a distinguished guest to the north. The Empress's salon was decorated in rococo style, contrasting with the Renaissance-inspired interior, and featured a painted ceiling, white doors with painted panels, a white marble fireplace, and pale blue silk wall coverings.
Reception spaces were placed in the west wing and included a ballroom, a dining hall for 350 covers, and a meeting room. These spaces were connected by circulation galleries and secondary staircases. The attic floor contained the imperial suite and domestic quarters, while the basement housed the pantry, kitchens, and heating room. Air-pulsed heating supplied the building, and water for the bathrooms came from the basement heating room. The palace was lit by gas until electricity was installed in 1902.
The Park and Garden Setting
The Palais du Rhin is oriented with its facade to the east, facing Place de la Republique. The palace is surrounded on three sides by a small wooded park enclosed by forged iron gates. Its garden design includes tiered hedges of laurels, aucuba, yew, and chestnut trees, as well as curved paths around grass parterres. The grounds contain century-old trees such as plane, purple beech, maple, linden, Scots pine, cypress, tulip tree, and ginkgo biloba. Four gates control two turning alleys used for carriage access to the side staircases. The park also includes wrought iron grills caricaturing Emperor Wilhelm II of Hohenzollern, an archaeological collection of about twenty sarcophagi and antique monument elements from the Strasbourg necropolis, and the old wrought iron gate from the prefecture, added in 1997. Two sculptures are also placed in the park: one by Rene Hetzel in the northern parterre and the white granite L'echelle celeste by Annie Greiner in the southern parterre, made as a tribute to the philosopher Jan Patocka.
From Imperial Palace to Administrative Landmark
The history of the Palais du Rhin began after the war of 1870, when Strasbourg became German and a building was required to honor the Emperor. It was designed as a square neo-Renaissance structure, inspired by the Palais Pitti of Florence, and its construction began in honor of Emperor Wilhelm of Hohenzollern. The work lasted nearly five years. At the time, the building was criticized for its supposed lack of necessity, its massive and elephantine appearance, and its high cost of 3 million gold marks. It was inaugurated by Wilhelm II of Hohenzollern, who stayed there about ten times until 1914.
During the First World War, the building was converted into a military hospital. In 1920, it took its current name with the arrival of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine. Two years later, it was transferred to the French State and housed the Fine Arts service and Alsace-Lorraine national furniture. During the Second World War, the Nazis turned it into a Kommandantur, and it was damaged by bombing. It was later recaptured by General Leclerc's troops and became his headquarters, where he wrote the proclamation of the realization of the Koufra vow.
The building faced a demolition threat in the 1950s, but it was saved by the Amis du Vieux Strasbourg association. Since 1993, it has been classified as a historical monument. It currently hosts the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine and the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC). The stables were classified as historical monuments in 2009.