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Origin and history

Adolph House is a historic monument located in Colmar, Haut-Rhin department, in the Grand Est region. Originally dating from the second half of the 14th century (ca. 1350), it was cited as early as 1371 and was long considered the oldest house in the city. Its architecture combines Gothic elements, such as broken arch windows, and a 16th century wood gable. The house owes its name to a 19th-century owner who had his Gothic windows restored.

The adjacent well, topped by a lion-headed gallows, dated 1592, would initially come from the rue des Marchands (former Merciere Street). The building underwent transformations in the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries, especially in its third floor and gable. The facades and roofs have been protected as a historic monument since 1929, reflecting its heritage importance.

Architecturally, Adolph House is distinguished by its Gothic double lancet bays on the first floor and a triple lancet arcade on the second, decorated with roses. These elements recall the style of the nearby cathedral, located opposite. The building thus illustrates the evolution of constructive techniques and artistic tastes between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

Although its reputation as Colmar's oldest house has been nuanced by recent dendrochronological analyses, Adolph House remains a major testimony to the city's urban and architectural history. Its location on the Cathedral Square, formerly Place des Armes, highlights its central role in the Colmarian historical landscape.

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