“Three million marks” whispered the wind through the trees surrounding the Palais du Rhin. A hefty sum indeed for a building that sparked so much debate.
Before you stands the Palais du Rhin a magnificent structure. It wasn’t always called that. Originally it was the Kaiserpalast the Imperial Palace. Built after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 it was a symbol of German power in newly annexed Alsace-Lorraine.
The Kaiser himself William II inaugurated it in August 1889. However the palace served more as a symbolic seat of power. The Kaiser only visited twelve times until 1914. It wasn’t his primary residence. This fact often surprises visitors.
Architect Hermann Eggert designed the palace. His Neo-Renaissance masterpiece was inspired by Florence’s Palazzo Pitti. The construction took five years from 1884 to 1889. It wasn’t without controversy. Many questioned its cost and purpose.
During the First World War the Palais du Rhin became a military hospital. Then in 1920 after Alsace-Lorraine returned to France it got its current name. The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine the oldest European institution moved in.
The Nazis used the palace as their Kommandantur during the occupation of France. General Leclerc later used it as his headquarters. He penned his famous proclamation there. The proclamation promised to raise the French flag again above the cathedrals of Strasbourg and Metz.
In the 1970s the Palais du Rhin faced the threat of demolition. Fortunately it was classified as a monument historique in 1993. It now houses the Direction regionale des affaires culturelles.
Today the Palais du Rhin stands tall. A testament to a turbulent past. It is a fascinating reminder of changing times and shifting power. It’s a place where history whispers secrets on the wind.