Maison Pfister (Pfister House), Colmar (must see)
If you鈥檙e strolling down Merchants' Street and spot a building that looks like it鈥檚 been dressed for both a medieval festival and a Renaissance parade, you鈥檝e found Maison Pfister. Built in 1537 for Ludwig Scherer鈥攁 wealthy hatter whose side hustle in Vosges silver clearly paid off鈥攊t replaced a place with the far grittier names 鈥淩ed Rooster鈥� or 鈥淏lack Hands.鈥� The Pfister name didn鈥檛 arrive until the 19th century, when Fran莽ois Pfister and his family moved in, and it鈥檚 stuck ever since. By 1892, the Judlin family took ownership and in 1909 gave it the architectural equivalent of a spa retreat.
This house knows how to work a street corner. Its base is solid yellow sandstone, while the upper floor flaunts timber framing. A two-storey oriel window elbows out over the street, crowned by a wooden loggia balcony. Above it all, an octagonal turret with a bulbous top punctuates the skyline. At ground level, arched arcades invite you in, while mullioned, triple-crossed windows and steep rooflines keep your eyes busy. Curved Gothic stonework props it up, and a tidy wood balustrade caps the oriel like a flourish.
The real conversation starter, though, is the fa莽ade. Christian Vacksterffer鈥檚 fading but still intricate murals parade a lineup of 16th-century Germanic emperors, the coats of arms of Colmar and Upper Alsace, the four Evangelists, the Western Church Fathers, and even a few Genesis scenes. Think of it as sixteenth-century curb appeal: part art gallery, part power statement.
Since its historic monument status in 1927鈥攁nd a fresh touch-up in 2012鈥擬aison Pfister has remained one of Colmar鈥檚 star attractions. Set among the hum of modern shops, it still radiates the swagger of its Renaissance heyday, proving that good craftsmanship and a lot of history never go out of style.
This house knows how to work a street corner. Its base is solid yellow sandstone, while the upper floor flaunts timber framing. A two-storey oriel window elbows out over the street, crowned by a wooden loggia balcony. Above it all, an octagonal turret with a bulbous top punctuates the skyline. At ground level, arched arcades invite you in, while mullioned, triple-crossed windows and steep rooflines keep your eyes busy. Curved Gothic stonework props it up, and a tidy wood balustrade caps the oriel like a flourish.
The real conversation starter, though, is the fa莽ade. Christian Vacksterffer鈥檚 fading but still intricate murals parade a lineup of 16th-century Germanic emperors, the coats of arms of Colmar and Upper Alsace, the four Evangelists, the Western Church Fathers, and even a few Genesis scenes. Think of it as sixteenth-century curb appeal: part art gallery, part power statement.
Since its historic monument status in 1927鈥攁nd a fresh touch-up in 2012鈥擬aison Pfister has remained one of Colmar鈥檚 star attractions. Set among the hum of modern shops, it still radiates the swagger of its Renaissance heyday, proving that good craftsmanship and a lot of history never go out of style.
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Maison Pfister (Pfister House) on Map
Sight Name: Maison Pfister (Pfister House)
Sight Location: Colmar, France (See walking tours in Colmar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Colmar, France (See walking tours in Colmar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Colmar, France
Create Your Own Walk in Colmar
Creating your own self-guided walk in Colmar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Colmar Introduction Walking Tour
Charlemagne was well acquainted with Colmar in his wars with the Saxons from 772 to 804 AD. Carolingian emperor Charles the Fat held an assembly there in 884. It was a free imperial city under Emperor Frederick II in 1226. Captured and held by Sweden in 1632, it was conquered at last by Louis XIV of France in 1673.
In 1871 it was annexed by the German Empire as a result of the Franco-Prussian... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
In 1871 it was annexed by the German Empire as a result of the Franco-Prussian... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Bartholdi's Statues in Colmar
Auguste Bartholdi is one of the most famous artists from Colmar. His works, such as the Lion of Belfort in Belfort, France, and the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, are known around the world. Colmar is decorated with open-air pieces sculpted by the artist.
Many of Bartholdi's statues are found in fountains that occupy spaces in city squares or on significant street corners. Some of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Many of Bartholdi's statues are found in fountains that occupy spaces in city squares or on significant street corners. Some of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles