Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at 7, Place de l'Etoile in Obernai is an emblematic building of the late 16th century. Built in 1598, it originally belonged to a butcher, as evidenced by the emblems engraved on the key of the cochère door. This building, which was heavily redesigned in the 19th century, nevertheless retains remarkable Renaissance elements, such as a staircase turret with a helical silt and richly carved doors. A Renaissance window, decorated with carved decoration, was re-used in an annex building, although probably from the main house.

The house was listed as historical monuments by order of 12 October 1929. This protection specifically concerns the entrance passage, fronts on courtyard with their galleries, as well as the stair tower. These architectural elements reflect the historical and artistic importance of the building, typical of bourgeois or artisanal houses from the Alsatian region to the Renaissance. The task marks visible on the cochère door recall the construction practices of the time, where the craftsmen left their mark on the works.

Obernai, located in the Lower Rhine, was at this time a dynamic city, marked by a thriving artisanal and commercial economy. Houses like this were both a place of residence and a workshop for artisans, such as butchers, whose profession was essential in everyday life. The architecture of this house thus illustrates the mixture between functionality and aesthetics, characteristic of the urban buildings of the late 16th century in Alsace.

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