Place du Corbeau (Raven Square), Strasbourg

Place du Corbeau (Raven Square), Strasbourg

Located near the Corbeau bridge spanning the Ill River in Strasbourg, the Raven Square (Place du Corbeau) has a historically intriguing background. From the 14th to the 17th centuries, this square bore the infamous moniker Bei der Schindbrücke in German, meaning "near the bridge of execution." The origin of this grim name stems from the fact that the bridge in question was the site where condemned criminals, confined within a cage, were plunged into the river to meet their end.

In 1849, the square adopted its current name, but in 1872, due to the German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, it underwent a swift renaming as Rabenplatz (or Raweplatz in Alsatian). The original name of Place du Corbeau was reinstated in 1918 following these changes. However, the tumultuous periods of history continued to impact the square's nomenclature. During the Nazi occupation of France from 1940 to 1944, it reverted to being called Rabenplatz once again. Thankfully, upon liberation, the French title was rightfully reinstated.

Regrettably, the ravages of World War II resulted in the loss of four splendid houses that had proudly adorned the Ill River banks and overlooked the square from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Among the fortunate survivors is the Brasserie du Canon, an ancient brewery where Jérôme Hatt first crafted Kronenbourg beer in 1664.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Strasbourg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Place du Corbeau (Raven Square) on Map

Sight Name: Place du Corbeau (Raven Square)
Sight Location: Strasbourg, France (See walking tours in Strasbourg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Strasbourg, France

Create Your Own Walk in Strasbourg

Create Your Own Walk in Strasbourg

Creating your own self-guided walk in Strasbourg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Famous Squares Walking Tour

Famous Squares Walking Tour

Justly reputed as one of the most beautiful cities in all of France, Strasbourg greets visitors with an array of picturesque squares. Among the most famous of them are:

Place Kléber – the biggest square in the heart of the city’s commercial district; a central meeting place since the 14th century.

Place Gutenberg – a definite “must-see” in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, not...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Strasbourg Downtown Walking Tour

Strasbourg Downtown Walking Tour

Strasbourg – the daughter of the Rhine River – is rich in history, architecture and gastronomy. This is particularly true of the downtown part of the city, the Grande Île or Große Insel in German, which means "Large Island" – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

At the centre of the island lies Place Kléber, the city's central square and main meeting...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Strasbourg, which celebrated its bimillennial anniversary in 1988, is a city with a very rich heritage. Among other historical monuments found here is a wealth of ancient churches and cathedrals, representing a variety of architectural styles. Exploring Strasbourg on foot, one is inevitably drawn to visit some of these locations. Here are some of the best known places of worship in the city.

...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Strasbourg Introduction Walking Tour

Strasbourg Introduction Walking Tour

The capital of France's Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg is often referred to as the "crossroads of Europe". Indeed, the city's name, emerged after the 5th century AD, is the German for 'town (at the crossing) of roads'. Adding truth to it today also is the European Parliament that has been seated at Strasbourg since 1949.

The vicinity of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles