Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 16, rue de la Première-Armée in Riquewihr is an emblematic construction of Renaissance civil architecture in Alsace. Dated precisely from 1566 thanks to several inscriptions (gate of the pantry, oriel, turret of stairs), it was built in sandstone for Claus Flach, as the initials and coat of arms engraved attest. Its facades keep ground windows, a renaissance carved oriel, and a helical silt staircase turret, characteristic elements of the era style.

The building, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1930, features remarkable architectural details: a panelled ceiling on the 1st floor, a vintage on the ground floor, and a press in the outbuildings. The carriageway door of the court, dated 1560, and the ancient vantals of the fence wall testify to its initial use, probably related to viticulture, a major activity of Riquewihr. The house was formerly known as Au Button d'or (Zum goldenen Knopf), reflecting its importance in the urban fabric.

Until the 20th century, the house housed inscriptions in 16th century German, now missing but transcribed by historian F. Zeyer. These texts, preserved in the archives (Zeyer fonds: 7 FZ 6), provided insight into the daily life and uses of the era. The house thus illustrates the Alsatian bourgeois heritage of the Renaissance, marked by a mixture of Germanic and French influences, in a then prosperous region thanks to the wine trade.

His angled plan, with gable on the impasse of the Strasbourg Court and drop-off on the street, reveals a clever adaptation to the medieval parcellaire of Riquewihr. Defensive elements (architectural door, fence wall) also suggest a concern for security, common in the Alsatian cities of this period, often exposed to conflict. The roof-lifting skylight also recalls traditional storage methods, such as firewood in attices.

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