Palais Rohan: three museums in one palace
Built between 1732 and 1742 for the prince-bishops of Rohan, the palace now holds the decorative arts, fine arts and archaeological museums.
Just behind the cathedral, the Palais Rohan was built between 1732 and 1742 by Robert de Cotte for Armand-Gaston de Rohan, prince-bishop of Strasbourg. It is the best example of eighteenth-century French architecture in a city that does not hold many, and the most effective fallback on a wet day: three museums under one roof.
The three museums
The decorative arts museum occupies the state apartments of the prince-bishops, a run of salons returned to their original state. The fine arts museum unrolls European painting from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. The archaeological museum, in the basement, covers Alsace from prehistory to the year 1000 and often takes by surprise those who only came in to get out of the rain.
How long to allow
An hour per museum if you are selective, half a day for all three. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and the city museums also offer a ticket valid for the day across several buildings, which pays for itself from the second visit onwards.
When to go
On a weekday outside the school holidays, and preferably at opening: in the afternoon the palace absorbs everyone coming out of the cathedral. Closed on Tuesdays, like most of the city museums.
Sources: Google Maps data collected in July 2026 (rating, reviews, address, opening hours), City of Strasbourg museum notices. Hours and prices change: check the day before you visit.
Frequently asked questions
Which museums are inside the Palais Rohan?
Is the Palais Rohan open on Tuesdays?
Théo Lindner
Théo grew up between Strasbourg and the Vosges. He walks every route before publishing it, times every leg, and would rather cut a stop than pretend a day is longer than it is.
