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Origin and history

The attic of Kaysersberg tithe is an iconic building located at 4 rue de la Commanderie, in the commune of Kaysersberg Vineyard (High Rhine). Built between the 16th century and the first quarter of the 17th century, it is distinguished by its body of gable-on-street houses, marked by three successive corbellations and a low arch entrance passage. The wooden panel facade, though crepy, evokes the oldest houses in the city. At the back, the courtyard houses a well dated 1619, decorated with the weapons of the locally influential stettmeister Johann Volrhat.

The building presents a hybrid architecture, mixing medieval elements such as the corbelling coffer and later additions, perhaps from the 18th century. The ground floor, partially open on the courtyard side, rests on a sandstone column decorated with leaves. Upstairs, a closed gallery used to communicate with a nearby house (#2). Although often mistakenly associated with a tithe attic, this building may have had a mixed function, including wood storage and living spaces. Its inscription to historical monuments in 1994 protects its facades, roofs, and well.

The historical context of Kaysersberg, a prosperous Alsatian city in the Middle Ages, explains the importance of such buildings. The tithe attic was initially used to collect royalties in kind (cereals, wine) for lords or the Church. Here, the presence of an armored well and the mention of the stettmeister — an urban magistrate — suggest a link with the local administration. The adjoining house (n°6), built in 1594, reinforces the hypothesis of a housing complex linked to an affluent family or institution.

Interior, not accessible during surveys, and subsequent changes (pan of solid wood on the courtyard side) complicate accurate dating. However, the triple corbellation of the façade and the well remain tangible evidence of its seniority. Today, the building illustrates Alsatian architectural evolution, between medieval tradition and adaptations of modern times.

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