Place de la République and Palais du Rhin

Place de la République is the central square of the Neustadt, the new town built by the German authorities after 1871, when Strasbourg belonged to the German Empire, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region. The square is laid out as a formal public garden with a war memorial at its centre and is framed by grand buildings in neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque style. The Palais du Rhin, built as the imperial palace of Kaiser Wilhelm II, stands on one side and is a heavy stone building with a high central tower and richly detailed facade. Across the square are the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, the National and University Library and the Préfecture, all products of the German period, giving the area a feel closer to a Central European capital than an Alsatian village. The Palais du Rhin is generally visited only on heritage days, so most visitors admire it from the outside. A walk around the square takes 30-45 minutes. It is reached by Tram B, C or F to République, and it is a short walk from the Musée Tomi Ungerer, the Grande Île and the Parc de l'Orangerie. The square is free and open at all times, and is usually quiet, with locals, students and office workers using the gardens. Morning light on the facades is best for photographs, particularly of the Palais du Rhin and the library, and spring brings flowers to the beds. Crowds are small compared with the old town. Visitors with an interest in architecture can combine the square with a walk along Avenue de la Liberté and Avenue des Vosges to see more Neustadt buildings. UNESCO recognises the area as part of the Grande Île and Neustadt listing, and information on heritage days is available at visitstrasbourg.fr.