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Origin and history

The house at 13 rue Latérale, located in Riquewihr in the Upper Rhine, is a remarkable example of Alsatian civil architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries. This building, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1930, is distinguished by its masonry façade on the street and its square wings, including a section of wood. The door of the press, dated 1562, and the wooden coffers of the 17th and 18th centuries bear witness to its architectural and functional evolution over the centuries.

Originally, this house was mentioned in 1563 as the house of the municipal butcher (Stadtmetzgerhaus), before being sold by the city in 1721. Its internal organization reflects its past uses: cellar in the basement, press and stable on the ground floor, and outbuildings in the backyard. The wooden galleries, arranged on two levels around a polygonal staircase turret, as well as the turned balusters, illustrate the local craftsmanship and the successive adaptations, as the probable addition of the turret in the 19th or 20th century.

The cadastral plan of 1833 revealed that the house was then divided between two owners, stressing its importance in the urban fabric of Riquewihr. The facades with galleries on courtyard, protected since 1930, constitute a preserved heritage, blending sandstone, wood panel and carved elements. These characteristics make it a privileged witness to the social and economic history of the city, linked to artisanal and agricultural activities.

The building combines defensive and practical elements, such as the carriage door and the coffers in corbellation, while integrating neat decorations (ground windows, curved posts). These details, combined with its location in the historic centre of Riquewihr — a city known for its medieval and wine heritage — make it an emblematic monument of Alsace. Its inscription as historical monuments in 1930 preserved this rich architectural and functional stratigraphy.

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