Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 13 rue du Général-de-Gaulle in Riquewihr (High Rhine) is an emblematic building of Alsatian civil architecture. Built in the 2nd quarter of the 15th century, it has a ground floor and a first floor in sandstone, while the second floor, in wood, probably dates from the 1st quarter of the 18th century. Its roof with broken slopes was later redone. The 1565 carriageway door, in a low arch and moulded, marks the entrance to an old passage, testifying to its original use as a artisan's or winemaker's house.

The street façade, with its oriel, and the Gothic gate on the first floor, were protected by an inscription to historical monuments in 1930. The outbuildings, on the courtyard side, were redesigned after 1833, as attested to by the Napoleonic cadastral plan. Today, the ground floor has been transformed for a wine trade, and the house is reunited to a nearby property, sharing the same heritage protection.

The building illustrates the evolution of urban houses in Alsace, combining craft functions (press, shop) and residential. Its history reflects the successive adaptations to local economic needs, particularly related to viticulture, a major activity of the region since the Middle Ages. The 1565 gate and the 16th century chamber windows make this a remarkable example of Alsatian Renaissance architecture, preserved despite subsequent modifications.

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