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Origin and history

The house at 21 Klobb Street, located in Ribeauvillé (High Rhine), is a remarkable example of Alsatian Renaissance civil architecture. Built in the 2nd quarter of the 16th century (circa 1525–1539), it is distinguished by its house in retreat from the street, accessible via a courtyard, and its semi-outwork circular staircase turret. The latter, decorated with carved medallions and an armored shield held by two lions (dated 1539), illustrates the influence of Italian and Germanic motifs. The building combines a masonry ground floor, a wooden panel floor, and defensive elements such as an openworked guardrail (now deposited).

The building builds on the old wall of West Ribeauvillé, demonstrating its integration into the city's medieval defensive system. Openings include sighing windows, sighs, and crawling skylights under a rumped roof. Inside, a cellar door in full hanger (partially 162-) and a central beam carried by octagonal poles reveal posterior arrangements. The house, partially renovated in the 18th and 20th centuries, retains traces of its artisanal use (forge attested to in the south). His staircase in helical silt screws, with carved decorations (tore, trilobes), and engraved initials H. D. W. underline his status as a bourgeois or artisanal residence.

Ranked a historic monument since 1932, the house specifically protects its Renaissance door of 1539, symbol of its prestige. The sculpted weapons (crushed poles, stars, compasses and mallet) could evoke a barrel, a flourishing activity in Alsace at that time. The guardrail of the turret, removed at the end of the 20th century, is the subject of a restoration project. The dependencies, visible on the 1831 cadastre, were partially destroyed or transformed, reflecting the urban evolution of Ribeauvillé. The house thus embodies the transition between late Middle Ages and Renaissance, mixing medieval heritage and architectural innovations.

The historical context of Ribeauvillé in the 16th century is marked by its role as a free imperial city, prosperous thanks to the wine trade and crafts. Woodhouses, such as the one on Klobb Street, often housed merchants, winemakers or artisans, organized into corporations. The presence of an adjacent forge suggests a diversified local economy, while the decorated decorations attest to the social rise of their owners. The date of 1525 (orally mentioned) and the initials engraved (H.D. W.) could link the building to an influential family, although its identity remains undocumented in available sources.

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