Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Black Bear House is an iconic 16th-century building located in Riquewihr, Haut-Rhin department. It replaces an earlier building mentioned in 1378 under the same name. Its architecture combines a ground floor in crepe sandstone and a floor in corbelled wood panel, with traditional arond tail assemblies and saw teeth. An engraved date (1582) on two lintels suggests changes at that time.

The building features archaic Gothic elements, such as a carved cornel post of a boynet (often compared to the Manneken Pis), added between the two world wars. This post would come from a house in Bennwihr. The ground floor, transformed into a shop on an undetermined date, retains a basement with a sandstone pillar and a wooden pole. The windows, redesigned in the 19th century, no longer correspond to their original Renaissance allegations.

Ranked a historic monument in 1930 for its facade and roof, the house illustrates the Alsatian architectural evolution, combining medieval structures and later adaptations. Its name, À l'Ours noir, dates back to at least the fourteenth century, testifying to its anchor in local history. The successive amendments reflect the commercial and residential uses of Riquewihr, a successful Renaissance merchant town.

The location at 27 rue du Général-de-Gaulle (former Grande-Rue) highlights its integration into the historical urban fabric. Construction techniques, such as long landfills and longitudinal solving, reveal a craftsmanship typical of the region. Despite partial transformations, the building remains a remarkable example of Alsatian civil heritage.

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