Pfister House and Schongauer House

Take a moment to turn around and look up at the two iconic houses at this crossroads. Let’s start with the one on the right, at the corner of Rue Mercière, aka Haberdasher’s Street. It’s the Pfister House, the most famous one in Colmar. Dating from 1537, this Renaissance-style building sports a few medieval touches that make it stand out from the crowd. You can’t miss its two-storey oriel window and the octagonal turret. The house was built in Rouffach yellow sandstone and wood, and it’s famous for its unique color and biblical frescoes painted on the walls. This architectural gem is the trademark of Colmar. Across the street, on your left, you’ll see the Schongauer House. You’ll recognize it by its striking half-timbering and red shutters. It is even older than its neighbor, dating from the late 15th century, but it’s seen its share of changes over the years. It bears the name of the family that once owned it, that of Martin Schongauer. He was a renowned painter and engraver born in Colmar in the mid-15th century. His 1473 masterpiece, “The Madonna of the Rose Bower,” is considered one of the greatest works of German art. No wonder he was one of the very first painters to gain recognition throughout Europe. As for the building before you, it boasts a beautiful façade with three floors that project forward beyond the ground floor. The house is topped by a two-storey gable. So, given their history and architecture, it’s no surprise that these two former Colmar residences are now listed as Monuments Historiques.