Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house at 2-4 rue des Blés in Guebwiller, Haut-Rhin, is an emblematic building of the 4th quarter of the 16th century. Built in 1585, it was originally home to the former Bailiwick Court, a central location for the local judicial administration. Its architecture reflects the construction techniques of the late Renaissance in Alsace, although later transformations, especially after the damage suffered in 1944, have altered some original elements such as roofing and carpentry.

Damaged during the Second World War, the house lost major architectural elements, including a gallery covering the south facade on the second floor. Today, only clues in the attic, like a walled door, bear witness to these old provisions. Inside, a stone staircase, typical of the time, serves the floors. Despite the changes, the house retains a recognized heritage value, as evidenced by its designation as historic monuments in 2011.

The house bears the date of 1585 engraved on its façade, which makes it a rare example of precise dating for a civil residence of this period in Alsace. Its historic role as a bailiff's court underlines its importance in the local judicial organization under the Old Regime. After its partial restoration, it remains a major architectural and historical testimony of Guebwiller, included in the list of protected monuments of the Upper Rhine.

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