Place Kléber

Place Kléber is the largest square of the old town of Strasbourg, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region, and the main meeting point of the city centre. It is named for General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, born in Strasbourg, whose statue stands at the centre and whose remains lie in a vault beneath it. The square is a broad open space framed by 18th-century and later buildings, with the Aubette, a classical building on the north side, which later housed a cultural venue with celebrated interiors by Theo van Doesburg, Hans Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp in the 1920s. Cafés, shops and brasseries line the edges, and the pedestrianised space is used for markets, concerts and events through the year. From late November to December, the square hosts the city's main Christmas tree, a huge illuminated fir, and becomes the heart of the Christmas market, drawing large crowds. The visit itself is short, about 20-30 minutes, and most people pass through on the way between the cathedral, Place Gutenberg and the tram stops. The square is reached by tram A, B, C, D or F to Homme de Fer, then a walk of about three minutes. Crowds are greatest on weekend afternoons, on market days and during the December festivities. Early morning offers an empty square and good light on the facades, and evenings offer a lively atmosphere with café terraces. For photographs, the Kléber statue with the Aubette behind, and the tree lit at dusk in winter, are the typical shots. Visitors should watch for pickpockets in crowds and keep valuables secure.