Maison Pfister
On Gingerguide's self-guided Colmar audio tour, Maison Pfister is a stop worth about ~20 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Colmar Colmar guide
About Maison Pfister
A richly painted, turreted corner house of 1537, built for a wealthy hatmaker and often called Colmar's earliest example of Renaissance architecture, though it keeps some medieval features.
Maison Pfister is a half-timbered corner house at 11 rue des Marchands in Colmar's old town, built in 1537 for Ludwig Scherer, a hatmaker who had made his fortune in the silver trade of the Val de Lièpvre. It is commonly described as the earliest example of Renaissance influence in the town, though it retains some medieval features. A two-storey wooden oriel with a balustraded gallery projects from the facade, an octagonal corner turret rises to a bulbous cupola, and the structure combines timber with yellow Rouffach sandstone.
Its facades carry Renaissance murals, attributed to Christian Vacksterffer, depicting 16th-century Germanic emperors, coats of arms, the Four Evangelists, the Western Church Fathers and scenes from Genesis. The house replaced an earlier building known as the 'Red Rooster', and takes its name from the Pfister family, who owned it from 1841. The Judlin family acquired it in 1892 and restored it in 1909, and it was classified a monument historique in 1927.
Did you know? Despite its name, no member of the Pfister family ever built the house; they only owned it from 1841, and the label simply stuck to a building that was already three centuries old.
How much time do you need at Maison Pfister?
Around ~20 min works well for Maison Pfister — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Maison Pfister?
Yes — Maison Pfister made the cut as one of 13 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Colmar. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Colmar
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Maison Pfister and read more:
Day 1 of the Colmar in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Maison Pfister
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