Palais de l’Europe

Why go

The building gives institutional form to Strasbourg's European role. Its fortress-like exterior contrasts with the Assembly Chamber described inside, making it worth seeing as an architectural stop. Compare its solid outline with the glass-and-steel European Parliament to distinguish two institutions that share the city's European quarter.

What to look for

• Red, silver and brown exterior with narrow, arrow-slit-like window rows
• The broad square form of the Council of Europe's headquarters
• The historic Assembly Chamber on an eligible booked group tour

The full story

The Palais de l’Europe has housed the Council of Europe since the late 1970s, replacing an earlier House of Europe. For part of its history it also served as the Strasbourg meeting place of the European Parliament. That overlap helps explain why visitors may associate several European institutions with this district, but the palace and the Parliament's later building are different places. The palace's square mass and rows of narrow windows give its exterior a defensive look. Its red, silver and brown surfaces make it recognizable from outside, where most individual visitors will experience it. The Assembly Chamber lies within the working headquarters and is a reason for eligible groups to arrange a guided visit in advance. Seen from the street, the palace still tells a clear story: Strasbourg's European role is not confined to one monument, and this building represents the Council of Europe's own institutional home.

Useful to know

• Use the exterior as the default visit; arrange an eligible group tour through the Council of Europe for interior access.
• Keep this building distinct from the nearby European Parliament building when following maps or photos.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.