Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of the Wolves, also known as the house of the Chaldron, was first mentioned in 1328 as the residence of the lords of Charms. From the 15th century on, these lords served militarily the Dukes of Lorraine, who gradually acquired the city between 1285 and 1312. The house was rebuilt in 1537 in a clean Renaissance style, typical of the years 1535-1540, with triangular pediments and columns surrounding the windows. An empty niche at the corner of the building used to carry a statue of Saint John, as indicated by the engraved inscription.

In 1633, the house received the signature of the Treaty of Charms between Charles IV of Lorraine and Cardinal Richelieu. Two years later, part of the building was burned during the Thirty Years War. Sold in 1835 to Mayor Charles Luxer, it then houses the Café de Paris before being bought by the commune in 1999. Ranked a historic monument in 1926 (façades and gate) and in 2009 (courtyard, staircase, roofs), it was restored in 2009 with the help of the Heritage Foundation and now houses the tourist office.

Its name comes from wolf-shaped gutters, while its architecture combines ancient and French influences, announcing classicism. Protected elements include Renaissance facades, a screw staircase, and a square tower overlooking the inner courtyard. Although sometimes mistakenly associated with the Bassompierre family, there is no evidence linking this line to the home. The capitals and pediments illustrate the diffusion of the Renaissance ornamental motifs in Lorraine.

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