Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at the 40 Quai des Batliers in Strasbourg, built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, is a remarkable example of Alsatian civil architecture. The building, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1937, consists of a main masonry building, with two floors under a roof with broken slopes, and several wings in return, some of which are made of wood. The platform façade, structured by sandstone links, features a basket-sleeve entrance and a first floor balcony, with a partially altered original grid. The windows of the floors, in segmental arch, as well as two original skylights, bear witness to the architectural style of the era.

The interior retains notable elements, such as a sandstone fireplace decorated with 1752, bearing the initials of the boatmaster Jean-Jacques Ulrich and his wife, as well as a wooden staircase with carved ramp. The lateral wings, partly made of wood, date back to the 18th century for some, while other parts, such as the E wing that once housed the stables, could date back to the 19th century. The property underwent several modifications, notably in 1901, with the creation of an axial passage and the development of shops on the ground floor, whose Art Nouveau windows remain.

The history of the place dates back to at least 1587, when the boatcarpenter Wolff Schlegel lived there. In the 18th century, the house belonged to boatmen such as Jean-Jacques Ulrich, who in 1765 obtained permission to change the facade, including the addition of a balcony. Sold at auction in 1788, it later housed cafes in the 19th century, such as the Café du Nord in 1854. The 18th and 19th century relief plans document its architectural evolution, including the gradual disappearance of corbellations and the addition of connecting wings in the courtyard.

The elements protected since 1937 include the front and courtyard balconies, as well as the start of the stairs. The well in the first courtyard, the balcony gates, and the old chimneys illustrate the preserved heritage. Despite transformations (creation of cellars, modification of fronts), the house retains traces of its residential and artisanal use, linked to the Strasbourg river activity, from the Ancien Régime to the contemporary era.

External links