Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of Ambrose Dieffenbach, located at 12 rue du Général-de-Gaulle in Riquewihr (High Rhine), is a historic monument registered since 1996. Built between 1605 and 1607 for Ambrosius Dieffenbach, a member of the local magistrate, it illustrates the Alsatian Renaissance architecture with its angular oriel, wooded shields and friezes decorated with heads and fruits. The entrance door, dated 1606, has an interrupted pediment and pilasters typical of the era.

The interior houses a wooden staircase with twisted core and a prestigious room on the first floor, with a ceiling with marked caissons and carved doors dated 1607. This room, probably originally painted, reflects the social status of its sponsor. The posterior house, dated 1574, once housed outbuildings (remise, stable) and communicated with the cellar of the main house.

During the Revolution, between 1795 and 1800, the building served as a seat in the Executive Board of the canton of Riquewihr. In the 20th century, it was known as the Irion House, the name of its owner. Today, the ground floor hosts a trade, the cellars a restaurant, and the floors of the accommodation. The architect Heinrich Schickhardt, appointed by the Dukes of Württemberg-Montbéliard, supervised its construction, mixing German and Alsatian influences.

The protected elements include facades, gilding, interior decorations (woodhouses, marked doors) and vaulted cellars. The courtyard, once open, was covered on the terrace. The engraved dates (1605, 1606, 1607) and the initials A D (Ambroise Dieffenbach) bear witness to its history, while the carriage door in the middle of the hanger facilitates access to the old courtyard.

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