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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Post Relay of Ostheim, built in the 2nd quarter of the 18th century (1747), was an essential infrastructure for travel and transport in Alsace. This building, owned by the Ostermann family, housed a hotel built into the royal postal network. It was completely destroyed during the 1944-1945 bombings, with the exception of a wall-mitoyen in sandstone bellows, characterized by its toothed gable. This vestige, nicknamed the Cigognes wall since the installation of a nest in 1930, was preserved and restored after the war.

The wall is now backed by the monument to the commune's dead, symbolizing local resilience. Ranked historic monument by decree of April 11, 1988, it illustrates the 18th century utilitarian architecture and the role of post offices in territorial organization. Its location on the Place des Cigognes (68150 Ostheim, Haut-Rhin) makes it a heritage landmark of the Greater East, managed by the municipality.

The building was part of a wider network of Alsatian postal relays, facilitating exchanges between Colmar and other cities. Partial destruction in 1944-45 reflects the damage to local heritage during the Second World War. The wall, the only material witness, recalls the postal and hotel history of the region, while sheltering an oral tradition linked to the storks, emblems of Alsace.

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