Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The building at 42 rue du Général-de-Gaulle in Kaysersberg is a historic monument located in the Haut-Rhin department in the Grand Est region. This civil building, built in the 18th century, illustrates the gradual penetration of French architectural taste in the Alsatian valleys, while preserving local elements such as its very sharp roof, perhaps inherited from an earlier construction. The façade, organized in three spans, features low arched bays on the ground floor and segmental arch windows on the floors.

The house was renovated in 1779 for a merchant whose initials I S H / M A appear on the decorative key of the central bay, accompanied by an acanthe decor and the number 4 probably symbolizing his commercial activity. The 1779 vintage, engraved on both sides of this key, attests to this change to the taste of the day. At the back, an adjacent building in crepe wood, with a corbellation decorated with sandstone twists, bears witness to the region's traditional constructive techniques. Damaged during World War II, the building was later restored and now houses a banking agency.

Ranked by decree of 21 October 1946, this building reflects both the economic ease of the Alsatian merchants in the 18th century and the evolution of architectural styles under French influence. Its designation as historic monuments underscores its heritage interest, both for its representative façade of the time and for its interior and rear elements preserved. The house thus embodies a part of the urban history of Kaysersberg, a city marked by its commercial and winemaking past in the Weiss Valley.

External links