Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 2 Kessler square in Soultzmatt, in the Upper Rhine, is a typical example of Renaissance civil architecture from the first quarter of the seventeenth century. This building is distinguished by its hexagonal staircase turret and five-sided oriel, entirely carved with Renaissance motifs. The door of the turret (with fluted pilasters and ionic capitals), as well as the lintel adorned with an arch in braid and a carved head bear witness to exceptional craftsmanship. A tasker's mark engraved on the lintel and the date 1617 inscribed on the oriel confirm its origin.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 22 March 1934 for its facades and roof, this house underwent modifications in the 19th century, including the re-perceived windows. The house, divided into two apartments, was restored around 1980. Its pantry, equipped with a door in the middle of the hanger, and its internal doors with ground chambranles (with volutes) illustrate the evolution of its residential use. The helical silt staircase, carved at its base, and the differences between the door stalls suggest partial repairs or replacements over the centuries.

Located in the Alsatian Great East, this residence reflects the influence of Renaissance artistic currents in an area marked by its border history. Its early inscription (1934) underscores its heritage value, while its central location in Soultzmatt makes it a local architectural landmark. The protected elements (facades, roof) and sculptural details make this a rare testimony of the bourgeois habitat of the modern era in Alsace.

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