Palais Rohan

The Palais Rohan is the former episcopal palace built between 1731 and 1742 for Cardinal Armand-Gaston de Rohan, who wanted a residence worthy of his position (and his ambitions: the Rohan family produced four cardinals who each served as Bishop of Strasbourg). The palace is one of the finest examples of French Baroque architecture east of Paris. It houses three separate museums: the Musee Archeologique (the pre-Roman and Roman collections from Alsace, EUR 6.50), the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (the original royal apartments furnished as they were under Louis XV and Louis XVI, with the full porcelain production from the Strasbourg manufactory, EUR 6.50), and the Musee des Beaux-Arts (Flemish, Dutch, Italian, and French paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries, including a Giotto, a Raphael attributed work, and El Greco, EUR 6.50). A combined ticket covers all three for EUR 13. The interior of the apartments is extraordinary: the Chambre du Roi (the room prepared for Louis XV in case he visited) is the finest court interior in Alsace. Napoleon stayed here twice. Open Wednesday to Monday.