Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The building, located at 23 Berthe Molly Street in Colmar, Haut-Rhin department, is a historical monument built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Several work campaigns are attested by engraved vintages, notably in 1599, 1604, 1606 and 1609, reflecting successive architectural changes. The front door, dated 1599, and the cochère door of 1604 illustrate this development. The inscription " der Gott vertrawt" (1606) and the presence of five - branched Solomon stars suggest a connection with the Jewish community, evoking the possibility of an oratory or rabbinical residence.

The facades on street, although simplified and partially altered, contrast with the inner courtyard, where a wooden strip dominates over a masonry ground floor. An open gallery with balustrade, remarkably preserved, runs on three sides on the second floor, adding an architectural charm to the ensemble. This building, originally a private house (the so-called "Gretscher House"), is now part of a wider judicial complex, including the former Palace of the Sovereign Council of Alsace and the Court of Assizes.

Ranked a historic monument since 1985 (inscription of facades, roofs and galleries), the building was the subject of a new decree in 2024, extending the protection to the whole site of the Augustins, of which it is part. Owned by the Ministry of Justice, it bears witness to the urban history of Colmar, between civil, religious and judicial heritage. The protected elements now include associated cadastral parcels, consolidating its heritage value in the Great East.

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