Palace of Europe, Strasbourg

If you've explored some of Strasbourg's impressive old buildings before making your way to the Palace of Europe, don't assume that it will resemble a fairy tale from Germany. You might be taken aback by its surprising and somewhat bold modern design.

Rather than looking like a traditional palace, it has the appearance of a futuristic scientific facility where peculiar experiments could be happening. However, it has actually served as the headquarters for the Council of Europe since 1997.

Following World War II, the meetings were initially held in a building within the University. In 1950, the Council relocated to the House of Europe, which was demolished in 1977 to make way for the new building's lawns.

The palace takes on a square shape and carries a fortress-like quality with its slanted walls made of glass, sandstone, and steel. Within the central courtyard, you'll find two domed structures. The larger one functions as the Assembly Chamber, while the smaller one serves as the Debating Chamber.

Standing at 38 meters in height, the palace covers an area of 64,000 square meters. It boasts 17 meeting rooms and houses 1,000 offices for the Council's secretariat. Additionally, it accommodates the office of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

This palace is utilized by the Committee of Members, the Congress of the Council of Europe, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Access to the interior is restricted to official guided tours, which provide captivating insights into the Council of Europe's functions and operations.