Place Kléber (Kleber Square), Strasbourg

Place Kléber (Kleber Square), Strasbourg (must see)

It is well worth taking time to visit the Place Kleber which is the biggest square in the heart of the city’s commercial district. The square has been a central meeting place since it was laid out in the 14th century and it took its name in 1840 after the General Jean Baptiste Kleber, whose statue stands in the center of the square. The general served in Napoleon’s army during the campaign in Egypt in 1798 and 1799. The statue was erected in 1838 by Philippe Grass.

When Napoleon returned to Paris, he named the Kleber Commander of the French Forces. Kleber was assassinated in 1800 in Cairo. His body was repatriated and kept in the Chateau d’If off the Marseille coast until being interred in his native Strasbourg thirty years later. The general’s remains are in a vault under the statue.

An interesting building along the north side of the square is the Aubette building, built in 1772 by Jacque-François Blondel. Once a military post, it was given its name in the 19th century, from the dawn (aube) changing of the guard. In 1928 three avant-garde artists Jean Arp, Theo van Doesburg and Sophie Taeuber-Arp decorated the interior of the building. This work of art is often called the "Sistine Chapel of Abstract Art" for its artistic beauty. Nowadays, the Aubette building is an artistic and historical landmark with on Place Kléber and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Admission to the building is free.

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.

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Place Kléber (Kleber Square) on Map

Sight Name: Place Kléber (Kleber 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 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.

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

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 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