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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of the knights of Saint John, located in Colmar in the Haut-Rhin, is an emblematic 17th-century building. Built in 1608, it is distinguished by an architecture inspired by Venetian palaces, with two perpendicular wings surrounding a closed inner courtyard. Its on-street facades, pierced with window-to-meneau windows, and arched galleries (reconstructed identically in the 19th century) reflect exceptional craftsmanship. The building, although close to the Saint John Commandory, has no historical connection with it.

Classified as a historic monument since 9 July 1903 for its facades and roofs, this house illustrates the Alsatian architectural heritage. Its ornamental details, such as the speckled roses of the guardrail or the upper level stone balustrade, bear witness to a rare stylistic influence in France. Demonstrated and rebuilt in the 19th century, it now retains its original appearance, with arches on the first floor and dogive crosses on the second.

The building, accessible by Saint-Jean Street and the Grand-Rue, embodies the heritage of the hospital knights in the region, although its name is more linked to its location than to a proven military or religious function. Its early classification (early 20th century) highlights its heritage importance in the urban landscape of colmarian, marked by a mixture of Germanic and Mediterranean influences.

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