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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house located at 11 rue Saint-Nicolas in Riquewihr, in the Upper Rhine (Great East), is a remarkable example of Alsatian civil architecture of the late 16th century. Built in 1581 as indicated by the carved shield above the curved gate, it probably belonged to a winemaker whose initials HS are engraved on the facade. Its two-storey oriel, decorated with leafy columns, and its corner structure with gable on the street make it a rare testimony of bourgeois houses of the era.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 18 March 1930, the protection specifically concerns the facade on street with its oriel and roof. The building preserves the characteristic elements of Alsatian winemakers' houses: a cellar in the basement, a grape harvest on the ground floor (a winery area), and a straight wooden staircase accessible by a door in the middle of a curved hanger. The windows, richly decorated with sills and prominent supports, reflect the social status of its owner.

The building illustrates the economic boom of Riquewihr in the 16th century, a prosperous city thanks to the wine trade. Architectural details, such as the triplet windows or plant sculptures of the oriel, suggest a late Gothic and Renaissance influence. Although the sponsor (HS initials) remains anonymous, the house symbolizes the Alsatian wine heritage and its adaptation to the European artistic styles of the period.

Today, the house is still located at its original address, 11 rue Saint-Nicolas (formerly n°12), in the historic center of Riquewihr. Its state of conservation and location make it a point of interest for the city's heritage routes, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.

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