Maison des Têtes
Maison des Têtes features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Colmar. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Colmar Colmar guide
About Maison des Têtes
A 1609 German Renaissance merchant house whose ornate facade bristles with about 106 carved heads and masks, crowned by a cooper statue that Bartholdi added on the gable in 1902.
The Maison des Têtes, or House of Heads, stands at 19 rue des Têtes and was built in 1609 for the merchant Anton Burger, later one of Colmar's magistrates. Attributed to the architect Albrecht Schmidt, it is a striking example of German Renaissance design, with two tall storeys, a gable rising in stepped tiers, and a two-storey central oriel window. Its name comes from the roughly 106 grotesque heads and masks, or mascarons, that cover the facade.
The gable is crowned by a statue of a cooper, or barrel-maker, sculpted in 1902 by Auguste Bartholdi, the Colmar-born creator of the Statue of Liberty. The house later served as the city's wine exchange, the Bourse aux Vins, and has been a protected monument since 1898. Restored in 2012, it now operates as a hotel and restaurant, though its celebrated facade remains freely visible from the street.
Did you know? The facade is usually said to carry 106 grotesque heads and masks, called mascarons, though some counts stop at 105; the exact figure depends on how attached figures are tallied.
How long is a visit to Maison des Têtes?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Maison des Têtes. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Maison des Têtes worth your time?
Maison des Têtes is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Colmar, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Colmar
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Maison des Têtes and read more:
Day 1 of the Colmar in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Maison des Têtes
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