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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Manufacture des tabacs de Strasbourg, built between 1849 and 1852, embodies the prototype of the manufactures designed by architect Eugène Rolland (1812-1885), engineer of the Régie des tabacs. This model, known as "Eugène Rolland", is characterized by a rational organization of the workshops around boiler plants, a solemn architecture marking its status as a public establishment, and technical innovations such as the mechanical roaster. Rolland experimented with his inventions, placing France at the forefront of the world's tobacco industrial transformation. The site, located 7 rue de la Krutenau, incorporates a side façade on Calvin Street.

The building suffered major destruction during the bombings of 1870 (French-Prussian war), 1918 (First World War), and 1944 during the allied air raids on Strasbourg. Each time, it is reconstructed identically, preserving its original plan. After 1945, the manufacture specializes in cigar production, covering almost 50% of national production. His business finally ceased in June 2010, after his acquisition by Imperial Tobacco in 2007, ending 160 years of industrial history.

Ranked in historical monuments in 2016 for its 19th and 20th century facades, roofs and elements, the factory undergoes a cultural and educational conversion. Since 2024, it has hosted the High School of the Arts of the Rhine (HEAR) and the "Library of La Manufacture", bringing together collections from the EOST, ENGEES and the University of Strasbourg. This project is part of a dynamic of heritage rehabilitation combining education, research and urban life, while preserving the industrial memory of the place.

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