Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at 14 rue de Saverne in Molsheim, Lower Rhine, is an emblematic example of Alsatian civil architecture in the early seventeenth century. Built in 1607, as indicated by the date engraved on the first floor, it is distinguished by its richly carved wood panel structure. The building features a corbelled oriel, chambranles decorated with curved columns, and lintels decorated with Renaissance motifs such as oves and darts. The windows are decorated with carved panels or chevron motifs, while the sandstone consoles feature stylized heads, shields and foliage.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, this bourgeois house housed the bakers' corporation, although it was not established that it was designed for this purpose. A window on the first floor still bears the emblem of this corporation, accompanied by the initials "K S" and an unidentified shield representing a bird on a heart pierced by two arrows, with the initials "M B". The ground floor, renovated in the 19th century, lost its original cochère doors to give way to modern windows, now housing a garage and the offices of the daily Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace.

Ranked a historic monument since 1929, this house illustrates the artisanal know-how of the period, combining residential, corporate and commercial functions. Its state of conservation and its architectural details make it a precious testimony of bourgeois life and artisanal activities in Alsace at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Protected elements include facades and roofs, thus preserving the integrity of its exterior decor.

Subsequent transformations, such as reducing the width of windows or changing the ground floor to visible sandstone, reflect the building's successive adaptations to the changing needs of its occupants. Despite these developments, the house retains tangible traces of its past, especially through corporate symbols and sculptures, which offer an overview of the trades and social hierarchies of the time.

The location of this house, in the heart of Molsheim, a city marked by its medieval and Renaissance history, reinforces its heritage interest. Its exact address, 14 rue de Saverne (formerly number 42), is listed in the Merimée base under the code Insee 67300, confirming its anchoring in the local urban fabric. The accuracy of its geographical location is estimated to be fair, with an index of 5 in 10, highlighting the need for complementary sources for finer identification.

Finally, this house embodies the duality between private heritage and collective memory, having housed both a artisanal corporation and contemporary activities such as the local press. Its designation as a historic monument in 1929 attests to its heritage value, while raising the question of its current accessibility, whether it is open to visit, rented for events, or reserved for professional use.

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