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Origin and history

The Nid de Cigognes is a civilian building located in Riquewihr, Upper Rhine, mainly dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. This stoneware building, with corner chains and toothed gables, is distinguished by its evocative name, linked to the historical presence of a stork nest on its ridge. The south facade, with a steep rise, combines ancient elements (windows of the 16th and 17th centuries) and 19th-century changes. Inside, architectural details such as a ceiling with flooring dated 1662, a helical wooden staircase of 1663, and late Gothic windows testify to its evolution.

The house bears the traces of several owners and transformations. In 1535, a window engraved with Wilhelm Bart's initials and the MDXXXV vintage attests to a partial reconstruction. The initials H I and the date 1663 on the stairs suggest a reshuffle by another owner. In the 19th century, restorations (1853, 1908) altered the street facade, removing an oriel and modernizing some openings. The dependence at the back of the court, including a press and wooden galleries, reflects its mixed use (housing, commerce, agriculture).

Ranked Historic Monument in 1930 for its façades, galleries, roofs and wells of 1603, the building now houses a museum dedicated to artist Hansi and commercial spaces. His name, Au Nid de sigognes, dates back to at least the sixteenth century, symbolizing its anchor in the Alsatian heritage. The wooden coffers, carved windows and defensive elements (such as the redents) illustrate the civil architecture of the late Renaissance in Alsace, mixing functionality and decoration.

The body of passage, formerly on two floors, has been modified over the centuries to keep only one level under a long-paned roof. The northern dependency, with its carriageway and stables, evokes the economic organization of the wine houses of Riquewihr, a town renowned for its wine since the Middle Ages. The successive developments (restored in 1908 by architect Edouard Spittler) preserved its character while adapting to contemporary uses.

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