Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Kaysersberg Town Hall, classified as a historic monument since 1990, is located at 39 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, in the Haut-Rhin department. Built in two major phases (1st quarter of the 16th century and 1st quarter of the 17th century), it embodies the Renaissance civil architecture of the region. Its U-shaped plan, with central passage, oriel and stair turret, reflects its role as an administrative and judicial centre as early as 1604. The remarkable elements include a helical silt sandstone staircase, wall paintings, and original marked doors.

The building underwent several notable restorations: in 1727 (inscription on harpsichord), in 1844-1848 (replacement of the panel and slabs armoried by Bleicher), and in 1926 (reproduction of seventeenth-century paintings by Ad. Zilly). The council hall, damaged by a fire in 1929, was restored, as was the large hall on the ground floor between 1983 and 1986. After the destruction of the Second World War, the architect Arnold rearranged the building and created the Town Hall Square.

The interior decoration preserves traces of successive epochs: ceiling with caissons in the council room, stained glass windows of Bartholomew (1926), and 16 17th century task marks engraved by stone tailors. It is dated 1604 and bears a coat of arms and a commemorative inscription in German. The current well, installed in 1897, comes from Main Street and dates back to 1521.

Dominique Haecher (or Khaecher), carpenter known as Werkmeister, led the work in 1604-1605, while Matthias Wuest produced the original paintings in 1618 (reproduced in 1926). The tasker marks and architectural elements (twisted balusters, rib warheads) bear witness to Alsatian craftsmanship. A communal property, the city hall remains a symbol of the local administrative heritage.

The elements protected by the 1990 rankings include facades, roofs, wells, screw staircases, 1st floor lions, and Justice and Council rooms. These protections highlight the historical and artistic value of a building that has survived centuries of transformation, while preserving traces of each era, from Renaissance origins to modern restorations.

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