Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Palace of the Rhine, formerly Imperial Palace, was built between 1883 and 1888 in Strasbourg under the direction of architect Hermann Eggert. This quadrilateral German neo-renaissance style, inspired by the Pitti Palace in Florence, symbolized the anchoring of the Second Reich in Alsace after its annexation. Its imposing architecture, with dome, loggia and carved pediment, reflected a will of imperial power. The palace was intended to welcome Emperor William I, but its construction, criticized for its cost (3 million gold marks) and its "massive" appearance, was finally inaugurated by William II in 1889.

The building had several uses: imperial residence until 1914, military hospital during the First World War, then seat of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine from 1920. During World War II he became a Nazi Kommandantur before being released by the troops of General Leclerc, who established his headquarters there. Threatened by destruction in the 1950s, it was saved by heritage associations and classified as a historic monument in 1993. Today, it is also home to the Grand Est DRAC.

Inside the palace, partially reconstituted, mixes Renaissance and rococo styles, as in the room of the empress with pale blue silk walls and painted ceiling. The west wing, dedicated to receptions, included a party room and a dining room for 350 guests. The surrounding park, lined with adorned wrought iron grids, houses centuries-old trees (platanes, beech trees, ginkgo biloba) and archaeological elements such as sarcophagi of the Strasbourg necropolis. A sculpture by René Hetzel and a work by Annie Greiner are also installed.

The palace was part of a larger urban project to refurbish Strasbourg after 1870, aimed at displaying German domination. Its architecture and decor – statuary, bosses, monumental stairs – make it a major testimony of this period. The stables, classified in 2009, and the gate of the former prefecture (1997) complete this heritage complex, now open to the public for cultural visits or events.

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