Change of name 1871 (≈ 1871)
Becomes 'kaiserliches Amtsgericht' under German administration.
1906
Construction of court
Construction of court 1906 (≈ 1906)
Edited by Wolff Ludwig in neo-Renaissance style.
5 avril 2002
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 5 avril 2002 (≈ 2002)
Protection of facades, roof and interior elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades, roof and fence wall with wrought iron gate; inside: entrance hall, entrance hall and staircase with cage (cad. 18 33): inscription by order of 5 April 2002
Key figures
Wolff Ludwig - Architect
Designer of the court in 1906.
Origin and history
The former cantonal court of Cernay, located at 5 rue Georges-Risler in the Haut-Rhin, is an emblematic building built in the 1st quarter of the 20th century, specifically in 1906. Designed by architect Wolff Ludwig, it adopts a neo-Renaissance style, typical of the official buildings of the period, with a facade adorned with a forebody surmounted by a gable. Its enclosure, surrounded by an original wrought iron gate, completes the architectural harmony of the place. Inside, the former audience hall retains its period layout: a platform, guardrails, original furniture and a studded ceiling decorated with a star.
The court, then referred to as "kaiserliches Amtsgericht" after 1871 (German period), was a symbol of the local judiciary as a cantonal capital. Built to replace obsolete premises, it miraculously survived both world wars, unlike much of the city. Close to the former prison in 1892 (Hôpital Street), he also housed the Land Book services. Since 2002, its facades, roof, fenced wall, vestibule, hall and staircase have been protected as historical monuments.
Today partly occupied by the Land Book services, the building embodies a rare judicial and architectural heritage in the region. Its exceptional state of conservation, especially for the interior elements, makes it a valuable testimony of Alsatian urban planning of the early twentieth century. The accuracy of its location (GPS coordinates and Mérimée address) confirms its anchoring in the historical fabric of Cernay, a commune marked by the Insee code 68063 in the Great East.
