Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Katz House is an iconic building located at 80 Grand-Rue in Saverne, Lower Rhine. Built in the early 17th century for Henri Katz, receiver general of the bishopric, it bears the date of 1605 on its façade. The wood sculptures are attributed to Niklaus Faber, while the sandstone elements on the ground floor could be the work of his son, Hans Faber. The lateral passage, dated 1688, was signed by Johann Niklaus Faber, grandson of the first.

In 1668, the house was enlarged under the direction of Hans Nicolas Faber, as indicated by an inscription. The interior paintings are perhaps the work of Vincent von Hoeffen. The façade, restored in 1899, contains motifs inspired by the remains of the 19th century. The sculptures of the upper wood panel are modern and not original.

Ranked a historic monument since October 12, 1929, Katz House illustrates Alsatian civil architecture, mixing Renaissance heritage and subsequent restorations. Today, it is privately owned and preserves protected facades and roofs, witness to the local history and crafts of the Faber, a dynasty of sculptors active in Saverne.

The building also reflects the urban transformations of the city, notably through its restoration of 1899, which is part of a broader movement to enhance the Alsatian heritage at the end of the 19th century. Drawings on crepi, recreated after ancient surveys, underline this desire to preserve a characteristic architectural style.

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