Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at the 68-70 rue du Général-Gouraud in Obernai, Lower Rhine, is an emblematic building of the transition between Renaissance and modern times. Built on the edge of the 16th and 17th centuries, it embodies the Alsatian civil architecture of this pivotal period. Its history dates back partly to the 15th century, as evidenced by a 1418 angle stone, discovered in 1969. The main building (A) was erected in 1567, initially with a gable on the street, before being enlarged at the beginning of the seventeenth century by a parallel building (B) with an entrance passage and a wooden courier on carved consoles, dated 1607.

In 1700, the façade of Building B and the entrance passage (C) were redone in stone, marking a modernization of the whole. A third house (E) was added in 1722, supplementing the structure. The building is distinguished by its decorative wood pane elements, rauts, and ornamental sculptures, some of which bear task-marks, butcher emblems, as well as monograms (BK, MSCH, IW, MK, CS, BSMG). These details reflect both local craftsmanship and the economic activities of the time, such as butchering, essential in a merchant town like Obernai.

Classified as a historical monument by order of 8 July 1929, the house is protected for its street facades, galleries on courtyard, roofs and well. These architectural elements illustrate the evolution of construction techniques and lifestyles in Alsace between the late Middle Ages and the classical era. The presence of monograms and professional symbols suggests that the building was linked to artisans or corporations, playing a central role in the economic and social life of the city.

Today, the house bears witness to the urban history of Obernai, a city marked by its medieval past and its development in modern times. Its hybrid architecture, combining wood, stone and carved decoration, offers a remarkable example of the Alsatian civil heritage, reflecting the cultural and economic influences of the region throughout the centuries.

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