Famous Squares Walking Tour (Self Guided), Strasbourg

Kléber Square is the largest and most prominent square in Strasbourg, serving as the civic heart of the city for more than three centuries. Its history dates back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries, when Strasbourg—newly annexed by France under Louis XIV—began reshaping its urban fabric with grand public spaces. Originally named Weapons Square, the square hosted military drills and civic gatherings. It was renamed in 1840 in honour of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, a Strasbourg-born military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolutionary Wars as part of Napoleon's campaigns in 1798 and 1799. Kléber's ashes rest beneath the pyramid-shaped monument at the centre of the square, making it both a public plaza and a discreet memorial.

The buildings surrounding the square reflect layers of Strasbourg’s architectural past. Among them is the Aubette on the north side, built in the 18th century as a guardhouse and later transformed into a cultural venue. Its most intriguing feature today is the restored 1928 avant-garde interior—a masterpiece of the European modernist movement. This work of art is often called the "Sistine Chapel of Abstract Art" for its artistic beauty.

The square is also framed by elegant façades, wide pedestrian walkways, and the large Galeries Lafayette department store, which contributes to the area’s lively commercial character.

Visiting Kléber Square is one of the best ways to feel Strasbourg’s pulse. Outdoor cafés and seasonal markets occupy the square throughout the year, but it becomes especially atmospheric during the Strasbourg Christmas Market, when an immense Christmas tree and festive stalls transform it into a glowing winter scene. The square also functions as a central meeting point, with easy access to the historic district, Little France neighborhood, and nearby shopping streets.

Gutenberg Square is named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type, who lived and worked in Strasbourg during the 1430s, a formative period in the development of his printing techniques. Although Gutenberg’s most famous work would later emerge in Mainz, Strasbourg played an important role in shaping his ideas, and the square reflects the city’s pride in that intellectual legacy. The bronze statue of Gutenberg, erected in 1840, stands at the centre of the square and remains one of its most recognisable features.

Historically, the area developed as a commercial hub close to the cathedral, where merchants, craftsmen, and traders gathered in the late Middle Ages and the early modern period. Surrounding buildings reflect this mercantile past, with elegant façades dating mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, blending classical proportions with Alsatian details. Among them is the former Chamber of Commerce building, recognisable for its Renaissance style and sloping Alsatian roof.

Gutenberg Square’s open layout provides clear views toward the cathedral spire, making it a natural pause while exploring the old town. Cafés and terraces line the edges of the square, creating an inviting place to sit and observe daily life in the historic centre. Seasonal events and small markets occasionally animate the space, but even on quieter days it remains a pleasant spot to absorb Strasbourg’s atmosphere.

Cathedral Square developed organically during the Middle Ages as the cathedral rose above the surrounding streets, becoming the focal point of religious, civic, and commercial life. For centuries, this space functioned as Strasbourg’s main gathering point, hosting markets, public announcements, religious processions, and celebrations tied to the rhythms of cathedral life. Its dense urban fabric reflects the importance of the site: unlike grand planned squares, Cathedral Square feels enclosed and intimate, shaped by centuries of gradual construction rather than a single design.

Surrounding the square are some of Strasbourg’s most remarkable historic buildings. Timber-framed houses, Renaissance façades, and richly decorated stone structures press close to the cathedral walls, creating dramatic contrasts in scale and style. Among the most famous is the Kammerzell House, a lavishly ornamented late-medieval residence covered in carved wooden panels and sculptures, once owned by a prosperous merchant family. Nearby buildings now house museums, shops, and cafes, many occupying structures that have stood here for hundreds of years.

The square offers an ever-changing atmosphere throughout the day. In the morning, it fills with the sound of church bells and footsteps echoing across the stone pavement. By midday, street performers, artists, and tour groups animate the space, while cafe terraces provide ideal vantage points for observing the cathedral’s intricate façade. The west front of the cathedral, with its thousands of sculpted figures, is best appreciated from the square, where visitors can take in the full height of the tower and the famous rose window.

During festive seasons—especially the Strasbourg Christmas Market—the square transforms into a glowing scene of lights, stalls, and decorations.

Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait (French for “Suckling Pigs Market Square”) over the centuries has gone by many different names, featuring both German and French titles, reflecting the city's evolution and affiliation with the two countries.

Originally, back in 1240, it was known simply as Holzmerket (“Wood Market”), referring to the wood marketplace that used to occupy a vast space brought about by the emerging port activities in the Middle Ages. Then, in 1328, the area changed name to the more poetic Unter den Holzlüten (German: “Under the Wood Flowers”). In 1600 it became known as Holzstaden (German: “Wood Street”) and, in 1672, as Krautmarkt (German: “Herb Market”), followed by Pfährelmarkt (German: “Stake Market”, 1732), Alter Krautmarkt (German: “Old Herb Market”, 1735), Färelmarkt (1740), and Pfahlmarkt (1747).

In the 18th century, the French took over the renaming routine, progressively making it Marché aux Choux (“Cabbage Market”, 1771), Marché au Cochon de Lait (“Suckling Pig Market”, 1792), and Place de la Vertu (“Square of Virtue”, 1794). In the course of the 19th-20th centuries, as the city changed hands several times between France and Germany, the area subsequently came to be known as Marché-aux-Porcs (French: “Pig Market”, 1817), Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait (French: “Suckling Pigs Market Square”, 1858, 1918), Neuer Fischmarkt (German: “New Fish Market”, 1872, 1940) and then Ferkelmarkt in 1944. The latter, though, proved to be short-lived, as the French swiftly made it back to Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait in 1945.

Surrounded by cute half-timbered architecture, the square is indeed a charming place, well worth a visit. Located here also is a well, topped with a wrought iron structure, reportedly from the 18th century. Sources say, it replicates one of the four wells once found on the former Waffenplatz (now known as Place Kléber), which can be seen, in particular, on an engraving by Jean Hans, dated circa 1800.

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.

Nestled within a tranquil nook of Strasbourg's Grand Island (Grand Île), lies Place Saint Etienne, a petite and charming medieval square adorned with a collection of 18th-century half-timbered houses. Originally constructed in the 11th century under the name "Saint Pierre-Large," the square adopted its present moniker in 1400.

At the heart of the square, shielded by a pair of lime trees, rests the Meiselocker fountain, erected in 1929. This creation by Ernst Weber was a gift from Munich to Strasbourg, an exchange for the Vater Rhein fountain bestowed upon Munich.

Among the other noteworthy attractions here is the Foyer de l'Étudiant Catholique, established at the birthplace of Paul Appell, along with the Saint-Étienne church situated within the Saint-Étienne Episcopal College.

Once a location where the local Assembly of Nobles convened, this square has transformed into a favored gathering hub for Catholic students, particularly following its revitalization in 2014.

Broglie Square is one of the most important and historic public squares in Strasbourg, located in the city’s ancient centre, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally the site of the medieval horse market, this long, rectangular square stretches about 275 m and has evolved over the centuries from a bustling trading place into a civic and cultural space framed by fine architecture.

Its modern identity began to take shape in the 18th century, when Marshal François-Marie de Broglie, then Governor of Alsace, transformed it into a shaded promenade by planting rows of trees and giving the square his name in 1740. In the early 19th century, the construction of the municipal theatre — now the Opéra national du Rhin — further defined the square’s layout and importance. Today, the surrounding buildings showcase a rich variety of architectural styles, from Renaissance and Rococo to Art Nouveau and Historicism. Notable civic buildings lining the square include the City Hall and the former Bank of France headquarters.

Broglie Square has also been the stage for key moments in French history. It was here, in April 1792, that "La Marseillaise," the French national anthem composed the night before, was first publicly sung in front of the City Hall. Monuments on the square commemorate historical figures and events, such as the Leclerc de Hauteclocque Liberation Monument, erected in 1951, and a statue celebrating "La Marseillaise."

Place Broglie remains a lively focal point of Strasbourg life. It hosts the city’s main outdoor markets on Wednesdays and Fridays and functions as a hub for local commerce. Most famously, it becomes one of the principal sites of Strasbourg’s celebrated Christmas market, held here since the 19th century and drawing crowds every winter with food, crafts, decorations, and a festive atmosphere. Even outside the holiday season, the square’s cafés, grand façades, monuments, and easy access by tram make it a pleasant place to stroll, relax, and absorb the heritage of the historic city.

Republic Square (Place de la République) stands as one of the principal plazas within Strasbourg's "German quarter." This square is encompassed on three sides by a collection of five edifices, each void of residential occupancy. These notable structures include the Palais du Rhin, the National and University Library, the Théâtre national de Strasbourg, the Préfecture of Grand Est and Bas-Rhin, and the Hôtel des Impôts, which serves as the tax center. Notably, all of these architectural marvels are classified as Historical Monuments.

The mastermind behind the design of Republic Square was the architect Jean-Geoffroy Conrath (1824–1892), who envisioned this space during the period of Reichsland. It was intended to serve as a grand and impressive gateway to the Neustadt, situated across the Ill River from the historic heart of the city, Grande Île. The square's design and construction began in 1880, initially named "Imperial Square." Notably, a group of Ginkgo biloba trees, also known as Maidenhair trees, were brought from Japan by Emperor Meiji and were planted in the central garden during the 1880s. These trees, a testament to history, still grace the square with their presence today.

At the heart of Republic Square, an impactful War memorial sculpture created by Léon-Ernest Drivier commands attention. Unveiled in 1936, this statue portrays a mother cradling two fallen sons, symbolizing the intricate historical narrative of Strasbourg, oscillating between the influences of Germany and France. This poignant memorial took the place of an equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I, which had been commissioned in 1897 and previously held its stance on the square from 1911 until 1918.

Why You Should Visit:
To see one, if not the only, remaining example of fabulous German architecture in the world since all the stunning examples in Germany were destroyed in WWII.