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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Black Bear House is an iconic civil building located at 10 rue Saint-Thiébaut in Thann, Haut-Rhin department (Great East). Built in the 4th quarter of the 16th century, more precisely in 1598 as its oriel indicates, it illustrates Alsatian domestic architecture of the late Renaissance. His name comes from a historical inscription, although the sculpted heads adorning his lodge disappeared after the damage suffered in 1944 and its restoration in 1960.

The structure underwent notable changes in the 18th century, with the addition of a courier in 1729 and the transformation of windows at the same time. These developments reflect the evolution of residential needs and aesthetic tastes under the Old Regime. Damaged during the Second World War, the house benefited from partial restoration in the 1960s, although some original decorative elements, such as the sculptures of the lodge, could not be preserved.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 22 March 1934, the Black Bear House is particularly distinguished by its street oriel, a rare and protected architectural element. This type of projecting window, typical of the bourgeois houses of the time, served both as a decorative element and as a means to enlarge the interior space. Today, the building remains a valuable witness to the urban heritage of Thann, a city marked by its medieval history and its role in the wine route of Alsace.

The historical context of Thann at the end of the 16th century is that of a prosperous city, integrated into the Holy Roman Empire and marked by the cultural and commercial influences of the Renaissance. The half-timbered and gilded houses, like the Black Bear, reflected the social status of their owners, often merchants or wealthy artisans. The region, which was then expanding economically thanks to the trade in wine and textiles, saw the development of a more elaborate residential architecture, combining local traditions and Italian or German stylistic contributions.

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