Squares

Place de la Cathédrale

Strasbourg

Place de la Cathédrale is a former square notable for its concentration of historic buildings and urban features. Among its remarkable buildings is the former Pharmacie du Cerf, a Renaissance-style pharmacy described as the oldest pharmacy in France. It is now home to the city’s Boutique culture, and its arcades are carved with branches and reptiles. Another feature is the Büchmesser sandstone column, which was used to measure the girth of city notables at the corner of a house.

The square is also associated with the house Kammerzell at number 16, built in 1571 in Renaissance style. This building has a stone ground floor, wooden carved upper floors, bottle-shaped windows, beam sculptures showing sacred and profane scenes, and a pulley on the gable that was used to lift supplies to the attic. In 2023, a time capsule was buried under the square opposite the Palais Rohan. Created by Œuvres d’art with Raymond Waydelich and Lidia Jacob, it is intended to be opened in 2523, and its location is marked by a plaque on the ground.

Map showing the location of Place de la Cathédrale in Strasbourg
Location of Place de la Cathédrale in Strasbourg

Nearby Objects

Notable Buildings on the Former Square

Several notable buildings are located on the former square. Among them is the former Pharmacie du Cerf, built in Renaissance style and described as the oldest pharmacy in France. It now houses the citys cultural shop. The building is noted for its arcades carved with branches and reptiles.

Another feature is the sandstone Büchmesser column, which was used to measure the girth of city notables and stands at the corner of a house. The house Kammerzell, built in 1571 in Renaissance style, is also located there at number 16. It has a stone ground floor and carved wooden upper floors, with bottle shaped windows. Its beam sculptures depict sacred and profane scenes, and it still retains a pulley on the gable that was used to lift supplies to the attic.

Time Capsule Beneath the Square

In 2023, Oeuvres d'art buried a time capsule under the square opposite the Palais Rohan at place de la Cathedrale. The capsule was created by Oeuvres d'art together with Raymond Waydelich and Lidia Jacob. It was designed to be opened in 2523, and a plaque was placed on the ground to indicate the capsule's presence.