The Palais Universitaire in

Strasbourg Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...

is a large, neo-Renaissance style building, constructed between 1879 and 1884 under the direction of the German architect Otto Warth. It was inaugurated in 1884 by

Wilhelm I Wilhelm I (Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig; 22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888) was King of Prussia from 1861 and German Emperor from 1871 until his death in 1888. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the first head of state of a united Germany. ...

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. Through ''Avenue de la Liberté'' (former ''Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße''), it faces the equally monumental former imperial palace (''Kaiserpalast''). The building served for several decades as the centre of the new imperial

University of Strasbourg The University of Strasbourg (, Unistra) is a public research university located in Strasbourg, France, with over 52,000 students and 3,300 researchers. Founded in the 16th century by Johannes Sturm, it was a center of intellectual life during ...

. The old university transferred from the buildings that it had occupied for centuries at the Jean Sturm Gymnasium to the new ones located in the '' Neustadt''.

Italianate features

The architect, Otto Warth (1845–1918), from

Karlsruhe Karlsruhe ( ; ; ; South Franconian German, South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, third-largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, after its capital Stuttgart a ...

, was young when he was entrusted with the design of the building. He had just returned from a one-year study visit to Italy, and his passion for Italian classical architecture is reflected in some of the Italianate features of the Palais.

The Aula

One of the most distinctive features of the building is the Aula, which measures 25 m by 29 m and 16 m high, which Warth modeled on the Villa Garzoni in Pontecasale, Candiana. It is decorated with a monumental seated statue of Ramses II, high, brought in 1933 by Pierre Montet. In 2012, the Aula was dedicated to

Marc Bloch Marc Léopold Benjamin Bloch ( ; ; 6 July 1886 – 16 June 1944) was a French historian. He was a founding member of the Annales School of French social history. Bloch specialised in medieval history and published widely on France in the Middle ...

, former professor at the university, shot by the Nazis in 1944.

Statuary

The Palais is striking for the statuary of its façades, which pay hommage to a number of scientists, theologians, theoricians and thinkers with Germanic connections, thirty-six in all, as follows: 1. von Baer, Karl Ernst Ritter von Baer Edler von Huthorn (1792 – 1876), scientist and explorer 2. Bopp,

Franz Bopp Franz Bopp (; 14 September 1791 – 23 October 1867) was a German linguistics, linguist known for extensive and pioneering comparative linguistics, comparative work on Indo-European languages. Early life Bopp was born in Mainz, but the pol ...

(1791 – 1867), linguist 3. Böckh, August Böckh or Boeckh (1785 – 1867), classical scholar and antiquarian 4. von Buch,

Christian Leopold von Buch Christian Leopold von Buch (26 April 1774 – 4 March 1853), usually cited as Leopold von Buch, was a German geologist and paleontologist born in Stolpe an der Oder (now a part of Angermünde, Brandenburg) and is remembered as one of the mos ...

(1774 – 1853), geologist and paleontologist 5. Calvin, John or Jean Calvin (1509 – 1564), theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva 6. Copernicus,

Nicolaus Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath who formulated a mathematical model, model of Celestial spheres#Renaissance, the universe that placed heliocentrism, the Sun rather than Earth at its cen ...

(1473 – 1543), polymath, mathematician, astronomer 7. Eichhorn, Karl Friedrich Eichhorn (1781 – 1854), jurist 8. von Fraunhofer, Joseph Ritter von Fraunhofer (1787 – 1826), physicist and optical lens manufacturer. 9. Gauss, Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777 – 1855), mathematician and physicist 10. Jac. Grimm, Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (1785 – 1863), linguist, philologist, jurist, and folklorist 11. von Guericke,

Otto von Guericke Otto von Guericke ( , , ; spelled Gericke until 1666; – ) was a German scientist, inventor, mathematician and physicist. His pioneering scientific work, the development of experimental methods and repeatable demonstrations on the physics of ...

(1602 – 1686), scientist, inventor, and politician 12. von Haller, Albrecht von Haller (also known as Albertus de Haller; 1708 – 1777), anatomist, physiologist, naturalist, encyclopedist, bibliographer and poet 13. von Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt (1769 – 1859), geographer, naturalist, explorer, and proponent of Romantic philosophy and science 14. Jacobi, Carl Gustav Jacob Jacobi (1804 – 1851), mathematician 15. Kant,

Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and one of the central Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works ...

(1724 – 1804), philosopher 16. Kepler,

Johannes Kepler Johannes Kepler (27 December 1571 – 15 November 1630) was a German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, Natural philosophy, natural philosopher and writer on music. He is a key figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, best know ...

(1571 – 1630), astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher and writer on music 17. Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm (von) Leibniz (1646 – 1716), polymath, mathematician, philosopher, scientist, and diplomat 18. von Liebig, Justus Freiherr von Liebig (1803 – 1873), one of the founders of organic chemistry 19. Lessing,

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (; ; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781) was a German philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and a representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the dev ...

(1729 – 1781), philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic 20. Luther,

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

(1483 – 1546), priest, theologian and hymnwriter. 21. Melanchthon, Philip Melanchthon (1497 – 1560), Lutheran reformer 22. Müller,

Johannes Peter Müller Johannes Peter Müller (14 July 1801 – 28 April 1858) was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist, known not only for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge. The paramesonephri ...

(1801 – 1858), physiologist, comparative anatomist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist, 23. Niebuhr, Barthold Georg Niebuhr (1776 – 1831), statesman, banker, and historian 24.

Paracelsus Paracelsus (; ; 1493 – 24 September 1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim (full name Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim), was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance. H ...

, Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493 – 1541), physician, alchemist, lay theologian and philosopher 25. v. Pufendorf, Samuel Freiherr von Pufendorf (1632 – 1694), jurist, political philosopher, economist and historian 26. Savigny, Friedrich Carl von Savigny (1779 – 1861), jurist and historian 27. Schleiermacher, Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768 – 1834), Reformed theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar 28. v. Schwarzenberg, Johann of Schwarzenberg (1463 – 1528), moralist and reformer 29. Schöpflin, Johann Daniel Schöpflin (1694 – 1771), professor of history, rhetoric and law at the University of Strasbourg 30. Sleidanus,

Johannes Sleidanus Johannes Sleidanus or Sleidan (1506 – 31 October 1556) was a Luxembourgish historian and annalist of the Protestant Reformation, Reformation. Life He was born at Schleiden in the Duchy of Luxembourg, then part of the Habsburg Netherlands. He st ...

or Sleidan (1506-1556), historian of the Reformation 31. Spener, Philipp Spener (1635-1705), Lutheran theologian, founder of Pietism 32. Joh. Sturm, Johannes or Jean Sturm (1507 – 1589), educator and Protestant reformer 33. Werner, Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749 – 1817), geologist 34. Winckelmann,

Johann Joachim Winckelmann Johann Joachim Winckelmann ( ; ; 9 December 17178 June 1768) was a German art historian and archaeologist. He was a pioneering Hellenism (neoclassicism), Hellenist who first articulated the differences between Ancient Greek art, Greek, Helleni ...

(1717 – 1768), art historian and archaeologist 35. F.A Wolf, Friedrich August Wolf (1759 – 1824), classicist, founder of modern philology 36. Zwingli, Huldrych or

Ulrich Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...

(1484 – 1531), leader of the Reformation in Switzerland Two allegorical statues representing ''Germania'' (Germany) and ''Argentina'' (Strasbourg), the former removed in 1918 and the latter destroyed in 1945, were replaced in their respective niche on the façade in 2014, after having been restored and/or replicated based on photos.

Monument historique

On 21 May 1990, the hall, the Aula and the main stairways were classified as a monument historique.

Council of Europe

The Parliamentary Assembly of the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; , CdE) is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation, represe ...

held its first session in this building, from 8 August to 10 September 1949.

University Press

The Presses Universitaires de Strasbourg, reputedly the oldest university press in France, has had its headquarters in the building ever since it was founded in 1920.

Gypsothèque

The Palace's basement houses the '' Gypsothèque de Strasbourg'', also known as ''Musée des moulages'' ( plaster cast museum). This classical cast collection was initiated with the founding of the ''Kaiser-Wilhelms-Universität'' in 1872 by Adolf Michaelis, a distinguished classical scholar and art history pioneer. Next to casts of works like

Harmodius and Aristogeiton Harmodius (Ancient Greek, Greek: Ἁρμόδιος, ''Harmódios'') and Aristogeiton (Ἀριστογείτων, ''Aristogeíton''; both died 514 BC) were two lovers in Classical Athens who became known as the Tyrannicides (τυραννόκτον ...

Apollo Belvedere The ''Apollo Belvedere'' (also called the ''Belvedere Apollo'', ''Apollo of the Belvedere'', or ''Pythian Apollo'') is a celebrated marble sculpture from classical antiquity. The work has been dated to mid-way through the 2nd century A.D. and is ...

, Aphrodite of Cnidus and the metopes of the Parthenon, the museum also displays casts of works by Antoine Bourdelle. The collection is the second largest cast collection in France and the largest university cast collection of France. The collections were moved into the Palace's basement in 1939, with the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and have stayed there since, although plans have periodically been made to move them into a separate building.''…sur la Gypsothèque de l’Université de Strasbourg''
collections.u-strasbg.fr

Gallery

Strasbourg Université n106.JPG, The Palace's

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

on top of the avant-corps Palais Universitaire de Strasbourg-Ramsès II (2).jpg, Statues of Ramses II in the Grand hall Université de Strasbourg-Plaque WWII (1).jpg,

commemorative plaque A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, bearing text or an image in relief, or both, ...

inside the Palace PalaisU-Strasbourg-Corniche (3).jpg, Statues of the scholars

Carl Friedrich Gauss Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss (; ; ; 30 April 177723 February 1855) was a German mathematician, astronomer, geodesist, and physicist, who contributed to many fields in mathematics and science. He was director of the Göttingen Observatory and ...

and Friedrich Carl von Savigny PalaisU-Strasbourg-Corniche (1).jpg, Statues of

, Abraham Gottlob Werner, Leopold von Buch and

Alexander von Humboldt Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt (14 September 1769 – 6 May 1859) was a German polymath, geographer, natural history, naturalist, List of explorers, explorer, and proponent of Romanticism, Romantic philosophy and Romanticism ...

PalaisU-Strasbourg-Corniche (2).jpg, Statues of Karl Friedrich Eichhorn,

Samuel von Pufendorf Samuel von Pufendorf (; ; 8 January 1632 – 26 October 1694) was a German people, German jurist, political philosopher, economist and historian. He was born Samuel Pufendorf and Nobility, ennobled in 1694; he was made a baron by Charles XI of ...

and Johann von Schwarzenberg Musée des moulages (4612867621).jpg, Inside the ''Gypsothèque'' below the Palace Musée des moulages (4613491958).jpg, Inside the ''Gypsothèque'' below the Palace

References

External links

*
''Palais Universitaire''
on archi-strasbourg.org
Strasbourg University Press
{{Coord, 48.5848, 7.7625, type:landmark_region:FR, display=title Education in Strasbourg Tourist attractions in Strasbourg Buildings and structures completed in 1884 Buildings and structures by German architects Historicist architecture in France Plaster cast collections Monuments historiques of Strasbourg 1884 establishments in Germany