Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 23 Poincaré Street in Rouffach (Haut-Rhin) is an emblematic building of Alsatian civil architecture from the early seventeenth century. Built in 1620 according to historical sources, it is distinguished by its stone oriel, supported by female-headed consoles and decorated with Renaissance motifs. The allegories bear wooded heads, while a cartridge with a crescent moon, held by two lions, displays the date of 1620 (restored in cement). The ceiling on the 1st floor of l ́oriel, made of stone, has ironwork motifs and roses, showing exceptional craftsmanship.

Originally conceived as an inn by Erhart Gutschelin, the house in 1739 became a post office under the direction of Ignace Ambringer, postmaster until 1746. Subsequent transformations, such as the replacement of the ground floor windows with spirals and their closure, reflect its functional evolution. Ranked as a historic monument in 1929, the protection covers facades with golden roofs and the Renaissance ceiling, highlighting its heritage value.

The lateral elevation has a sculpted door in the middle of a crescent moon, while the circular staircase turret, partially masked by an annex building, completes the architectural ensemble. The ground room windows and the wooden cornice add to its historic character. The house thus illustrates the mixture of Renaissance and local influences, typical of Alsace in the seventeenth century.

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