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Origin and history

The House of Tanneurs is an emblematic Alsatian half-timbered house, erected in 1572 during the Strasbourg Renaissance. Located at 42 rue du Bain-aux-Plantes in the Petite France district, it illustrates the typical architecture of this period, with its two floors in corbellation, its sill windows and its roofs in Alsatian tiles. Originally, it served as a tannery, taking advantage of the Ill canals for the activities of local tanners, millers and fishermen. Its large balconies-galerie and ventilated attices were dedicated to drying skins, an essential function for Strasbourg's artisanal economy.

Listed as a historical monument on 7 March 1927, the House of Tanneurs embodies the architectural heritage of the Grande Île, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. In 1949, it was transformed into Winstub, a typical Alsatian restaurant, by a group of eight wine growers. This place, also nicknamed "Maison de la Choucroute", today perpetuates regional culinary traditions, while preserving original architectural elements such as half-timbered windows added during its conversion.

The building is distinguished by its gable façade on the Ill, its intersected skylights and its varied volumes, characteristic of the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Close to Benjamin-Zix Square and another remarkable tannery (at 40 on the same street), it bears witness to the industrial and craft history of Strasbourg. Its ranking and location in Petite France make it a major tourist site, attracting visitors for its authentic Alsatian architecture and atmosphere.

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