Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Neye Hisle working-class city, located in Erstein in the Lower Rhine, is an iconic architectural complex of the late 19th century. Built between 1884 and 1896, it consists of 17 double houses, designed according to a uniform plan to house employees of a local spinning plant. These rented accommodation included strict hygiene and sanitation standards, offering rare comfort for the time, with equipment adapted to daily needs.

The attention paid to aesthetics is notable: the houses are equipped with corner chains, brick discharge arches, bossed sandstone bases and sprockets decorated with a sprocket. These architectural details reflect a desire for quality, both functional and ornamental, in an industrial context where worker housing was often neglected.

The city was listed as historic monuments on February 17, 2014, recognizing its heritage value. The inscription covers facades, roofs, sheds, wells, ditches, fences and associated gardens, preserving the integrity of the original assembly. Located on Rue du Général-Leclerc, it today bears witness to the social and industrial history of Alsace at the end of the 19th century.

Erstein, like other Alsatian cities, was marked by increasing industrialization, particularly in the textile sector. Workers' cities, such as Neye Hisle, played a key role in providing a structured living environment for workers, while strengthening their commitment to the company. These sets also reflected the hygienist concerns of the time, in a context where the living conditions of the workers were beginning to be improved under the influence of the emerging social reforms.

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