Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Rohan Palace, located in Strasbourg in the Lower Rhine, was built between 1732 and 1742 by architect Robert de Cotte for Prince-Bishop Armand-Gaston-Maximilien of Rohan, replacing the former Episcopal Palace. Designed in a classical style then in vogue after the French annexation of Strasbourg, it symbolized episcopal power and architectural modernity. The works, initially led by Laurent Gourlade and then by Joseph Massol, mobilized artisans for an estimated cost of £1.3 million (building + furniture). The palace became a place of representation, with royal apartments inspired by Versailles, a sumptuous chapel, and a richly decorated library.

During the French Revolution, the palace served as a prison before welcoming in 1794 the Imperial School of the Military Health Service, transferred to Lyon after 1870. Under German annexation (1872–84), it will house the Kaiser-Wilhelms-Universität before becoming a cultural place again. In the 20th century, it was the framework for diplomatic meetings, such as that between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama in 2009 at the NATO summit. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1920, it now houses the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Decorative Arts (with original apartments), and the Archaeological Museum, one of the richest in France for national antiques.

The architecture of the palace combines classical symmetry and rock details. The main façade, on the Ill side, has 17 axes framing a central body with columns, while the honorary courtyard opens with a monumental portal decorated with allegorical statues (La Clemence, La Religion). The interiors preserve gilded woodwork, Flemish tapestries (after Rubens), and décors inspired by Versailles, such as the king's chamber or the salon of bishops. The library, adjacent to the chapel, houses royal portraits and ancient busts. The small, north-facing apartments include Napoleon I's bedroom (Empire Building) and restored rooms after the 1944 bombings.

The name Rohan Palace comes from the four prince-bishops of this family who marked the diocese in the 18th century: Armand-Gaston-Maximilien, Armand de Rohan-Soubise, Louis-Constantin, and Louis-René (involving in the case of the Queen's necklace). Their artistic patronage and political influence made the palace a symbol of French influence in Alsace. The collections of museums, from prehistory to 19th-century art (Goya, Rubens, Corot), as well as ceramics and astronomical clocks, bear witness to this exceptional heritage.

Since the 1990s, the palace has undergone major restorations, such as the reopening of the archaeological museum in 1992. In 2015, its terrace hosted a contemporary glass exhibition as part of the International Glass Biennial, illustrating its current role as a bridge between history and modernity. Owned by the city of Strasbourg, there remains a place of memory, science (former faculty of medicine) and diplomacy, while being a jewel of Alsatian classical heritage.

Future

The Rohan Palace now houses three museums, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Archaeological Museum.

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