Kammerzell House (French: Maison Kammerzell; Alsatian: Kammerzellhüs; German: Kammerzellhaus) is one of the most iconic and ornate medieval civil buildings in Strasbourg, France. Located at 16 Place de la Cathédrale, directly opposite (northwest of) Strasbourg Cathedral, it stands as a prime example of Alsatian half-timbered architecture blending late Gothic and German Renaissance styles.
Origins and Early Construction (15th Century)
The building's
history begins in 1427, when the earliest structure was erected. It was
initially occupied by a draper named Hans Joerger (or Hans Jœger). At
this stage, it was a more modest medieval house.
In 1467, the house
underwent a significant reconstruction in a Gothic style. The stone
ground floor that survives today dates from this period. A lintel on the
ground floor is engraved with the date 1467, confirming this phase. This
stone base provided a solid foundation for later wooden expansions.
Major Transformation under Martin Braun (16th Century)
The house
took its definitive, current form in 1589 under Martin Braun, a
prosperous cheese merchant who purchased the property in 1571. Braun
kept the existing stone ground floor but completely rebuilt the upper
levels in the distinctive Rhineland black-and-white half-timbered style
with elaborate corbelling (overhanging upper floors).
He added three
corbelled storeys plus additional loft levels, creating a total of about
five floors.
The façade became exceptionally ornate, featuring
intricate wood carvings inspired by biblical scenes, Greek and Roman
antiquity, medieval legends, the five senses, the four ages of life, the
theological virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity), zodiac signs, and historical
figures like Caesar, Charlemagne, Hector, and Godfrey of Bouillon.
Small leaded windows (often with "bottle-bottom" glass) and a pulley on
the gable (used for hoisting goods to the attic) complete the practical
merchant-house features.
This Renaissance-era update reflects the
wealth and cultural aspirations of Strasbourg's merchant class in a city
at the crossroads of French and Germanic influences within the Holy
Roman Empire. Though stylistically tied to late Gothic/Rhineland
traditions, it is often classified as a masterpiece of German
Renaissance civil architecture.
Subsequent Ownership and Name
The house passed through many owners after Braun:
1604: Robert
Kœnigsmann (Braun’s son-in-law)
Later: Various merchants, including
the Stædel family (goldsmiths and drapers) earlier, and others like Jean
Bernhardt and François-Ignace Finck.
In the 19th century, it was
acquired by grocer Philippe-François Kammerzell (around 1806–1846
period), whose name it has borne ever since, despite not being
responsible for its famous appearance.
In 1879, the city of
Strasbourg purchased it through the Fondation de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame (the
organization responsible for the cathedral's maintenance). This
acquisition helped preserve it.
19th–20th Century Restorations
and Modern Use
A major restoration in 1892 enhanced the façades with
polychrome paintings inspired by 16th-century Rhineland styles, though
it darkened the overall appearance. The building was classified as a
Historic Monument in 1929 (some sources note 1920).
In the early 20th
century, it became a restaurant. Around 1905–1910, Alsatian artist Léo
Schnug (1878–1933) decorated the interiors with lavish frescoes across
all floors. These include allegorical and sometimes dark themes
reflecting his personal obsessions (anxiety, alcoholism, death,
madness), bucolic village scenes with hidden self-portraits, and
references to local history, such as a 1576 Strasbourg culinary
anecdote. The ground floor retains medieval vaults and a monumental
16th-century stone spiral staircase.
It has housed a renowned
hotel-restaurant (serving traditional Alsatian cuisine like choucroute)
since the late 19th/early 20th century, often called one of the most
beautiful brasseries in the world. It survived the 1870 bombardment and
remains one of Strasbourg’s oldest operating buildings alongside the
cathedral.
Overall Structure and Form
The building rises to 5 floors
(including the ground floor and attic/loft levels). It exemplifies
half-timbered construction typical of Alsatian and Rhineland bourgeois
houses: a solid stone base supporting a wooden superstructure with
exposed dark timber framing against lighter infill (originally wattle
and daub, later plaster).
Key structural features:
Corbelling/jetting: The upper floors project outward successively over
the street, a common medieval technique to gain interior space without
expanding the footprint. This creates a dramatic, overhanging
silhouette.
Asymmetrical yet balanced composition: The house has a
distinctive, almost fairy-tale profile with a steep roof, multiple
gables, and a prominent corner orientation toward the cathedral square.
Materials: Dark oak timber frame (heavily carved), stone ground floor,
leaded/stained glass windows, and traditional regional roofing.
Facade and Sculptural Decoration
The facade is exceptionally rich and
is what makes the house famous. It features some of the most elaborate
wood carving in Strasbourg:
Themes: A blend of sacred and profane
motifs — biblical scenes, figures from Greek/Roman Antiquity, medieval
allegories, the Nine Worthies (famous heroes), musicians, virtues,
zodiac signs, and Catholic saints. This eclectic mix reflects the
cultural aspirations of a wealthy 16th-century Strasbourg merchant at
the crossroads of Germanic and French influences.
Wooden sculptures:
Intricate reliefs and statues adorn the beams, brackets, and posts. The
half-timbering itself forms geometric patterns (lozenges, crosses)
enhanced by carving.
Windows: Numerous small, multi-paned windows
with leaded glass (some bottom-of-the-bottle style). There are
reportedly around 75 windows, many with historic glass, which create a
sparkling effect at night.
Color and texture: The dark, almost
blackened timber (enhanced by a 19th-century restoration) contrasts with
lighter panels, giving the classic "black and white" Rhineland
aesthetic.
The facade is both a status symbol and a narrative
surface, showcasing the owner's wealth and education.
Interior
Architecture
The interior complements the exterior richness:
Ground floor: Medieval stone vaults and a monumental 16th-century spiral
stone staircase.
Upper floors: Lavish frescoes covering walls and
ceilings on all levels, painted by Alsatian artist Léo Schnug
(1878–1933) in the early 20th century. These feature allegorical,
mythological, and regional themes.
Layout: A maze of small rooms,
alcoves, and intimate spaces typical of historic merchant houses,
adapted today for restaurant use.
Ceilings and details: Painted
vaulted or beamed ceilings, wood paneling, and preserved historic
elements.
Today, the building operates as a well-known restaurant,
allowing visitors to experience the interiors.
Architectural
Significance
Kammerzell House represents the pinnacle of Alsatian
half-timbered civil architecture. While its final form belongs to the
German Renaissance (with Renaissance influences in proportion and
ornament), it remains stylistically rooted in late Gothic timber-framing
traditions of the Upper Rhine region. It survived wars and urban changes
remarkably well and was classified as a Historic Monument. Its proximity
to the cathedral makes it a symbol of Strasbourg’s layered history —
Germanic, French, and European.
The building perfectly illustrates
the prosperity of Strasbourg’s merchant class in the 15th–16th centuries
and the cultural synthesis of the region. Its ornate, storytelling
facade, technical timber craftsmanship, and preserved interior make it a
masterpiece of vernacular yet aspirational architecture.
1427 - Hans Jœger, draper;
16th century - Stædel family: Christoph
I Stædel, goldsmith; Antoine Stædel, son of Christophe I Stædel; Florian
Stædel, son of Antoine Stædel, draper;
1571 - Martin Braun, cheese
merchant;
1604 - Robert Kœnigsmann, son-in-law of Martin Braun;
1671 - Jean Bernhardt, merchant;
17?? - François-Ignace Finck,
grocer;
1806 - Philippe-François Kammerzell, grocer;
since 1879
belongs to the foundation of the Œuvre Notre-Dame.