Place de la République, Central square in German Quarter, Strasbourg, France
Place de la République is bordered by five monumental buildings including the Palais du Rhin, the National Library, and the Théâtre National, forming a cohesive architectural complex. The layout creates an open, generous space where visitors can move freely and take in the scale of the surroundings.
Construction of the square began in 1880 under architect Jean-Geoffroy Conrath's design and it was originally called Kaiserplatz during German rule. After World War I, it was renamed and became a symbol of Strasbourg's return to France.
The war memorial at the center depicts a mother holding two fallen sons, one French and one German, representing shared loss across borders. Visitors often pause here to reflect on the complex history linking the two nations.
Multiple tram lines and bus routes serve the square, making it easily reachable from different parts of the city at any time of day. The wide-open space is accessible on foot and there are no entrance restrictions to explore the plaza.
The square contains Ginkgo biloba trees planted in the 1880s that were a gift from Japanese Emperor Meiji during the German period. These rare trees stand as a quiet testament to international connections made during that era.
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