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Palace · Estrasburgo, Grande Leste
Palais Rohan
18th-century palace of the prince-bishops of Strasbourg, next to the cathedral, which houses three museums: Arts décoratifs, Beaux-Arts and Archéologique.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Palais Rohan
The Palais Rohan was built between 1732 and 1742 for the prince-bishops of the Rohan family, designed by Robert de Cotte, the king's chief architect. The ceremonial courtyard opens onto Place du Château, beside the cathedral, and the rear façade faces the river Ill.
On the ground floor, the Musée des Arts décoratifs occupies the cardinals' apartments, with decorated salons, furniture, ceramics, goldsmithing and a clock collection. There is a wooden automaton rooster from around 1350, which belonged to the cathedral's first clock and is regarded as the oldest preserved automaton in the West.
On the first floor, the Musée des Beaux-Arts displays European painting from the late Middle Ages to 1870, with works by Giotto, Memling, Botticelli, Raphael, El Greco and Rubens. In the basement, the Musée Archéologique tells the history of Alsace from Prehistory to the early Middle Ages, and is the city's oldest museum.
The three museums have separate tickets and close one fixed day a week. The landing for Ill sightseeing boats is next to the palace.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 1.5 hours per museum; with 2 to 3 hours you can see the apartments and the painting museum.
Best time
On weekday mornings. The museums usually close one day a week and take a midday break on weekdays; check before you go.
How to get there
It is on Place du Château, next to the cathedral, about a 20-minute walk from Gare de Strasbourg. The nearest tram stop is Langstross/Grand'Rue.
Tip
If time is short, choose the apartments at the Musée des Arts décoratifs, which show the palace as it was lived in. Combine it with the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame across the square.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Palais Rohan
How many museums are there in the Palais Rohan?
Three: the Musée des Arts décoratifs on the ground floor, the Musée des Beaux-Arts on the first floor and the Musée Archéologique in the basement.
Does a ticket cover all three museums?
No, each museum has its own ticket. Estrasburgo's museum network offers passes that cover several of them; check the options before you go.
Which museum to choose if you have little time?
The cardinals' apartments in the Musée des Arts décoratifs show the palace decorated as it was lived in. For painting lovers, the Musée des Beaux-Arts features names such as Botticelli, Raphael and Rubens.