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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Koenigsbruck Hotel, located at 142 Grand Street in Haguenau (Bas-Rhin), is an emblematic building of the 2nd quarter of the 18th century. Originally, it served as a supply (urban residence) to the Cistercian abbey of Koenigsbruck, founded in the region. The current building was rebuilt in 1748 after a devastating fire in 1677, marking a period of architectural renewal for the convent. Sold as a national good after the Revolution, it underwent major transformations in the 19th to 20th centuries, including the modification of its facade, its roof, and the disappearance of its rear chapel.

The hotel has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1930, and retains protected elements such as its main façade and ironwork, which are witnesses to its past prestige. The damage suffered during the Second World War (1940–45) and subsequent changes (replacement of the cochère doors by a central passage, suppression of the porch) altered its original appearance. Balcony grids, probably added in the 19th century, illustrate aesthetic adaptations related to the tastes of the era. Today, the building embodies both the Alsatian religious heritage and the urban transformations of Haguenau.

The site is linked to the economic and social history of the region: abbeys like Koenigsbruck played a key role in managing land and trade in Alsace before the Revolution. Their property, often confiscated and sold, has marked the urban landscape of cities like Haguenau. The hotel's transformations also reflect the changing needs of its successive owners, from monks to private individuals, to the revolutionary state.

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