The history of the house - Part 1
Known by all in the village and yet so mysterious… Certains l’appellent le château, d’autres, la maison du commandeur. Nous encore l’appelons différemment en surnommant notre maison « la Commanderie ».
Passionate about heritage and anxious to make known to all he history of the buildingit seemed wise to deliver, humbly, some historical and architectural elements related to this house that still seduces us day after day.
His absolutely atypical style is the result of various architectural changes that have probably not finished giving us all their secrets.
Most of the information synthesized in these lines are extracted from the archaeological study conducted in March 2021 by the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) under the direction of Maxime MESSNER.
To understand the history of this house, a historical dive into the middle ages is necessary…
Let’s start at the beginning then.
"To understand the history of this house, a historical dive into the middle ages is necessary…"
The city of Boersch and its walls
The first mention of the town of Boersch is relatively late since it concerns the purchase of the latter by Conrad III has an unknown owner in 1291. The city is fortified,probably by means of earthen ramparts, from 1317.
The present presence of three gates located behind the curtain line suggests that they were built before the erection of a stone rampart. The city is mentioned as Stadt (city) from 1328.
In 1340/1341, the Lord Bishop of Strasbourg fortified Boersch. Since then, the city has been called an oppidum (fortified city).At that time, however, it was only provided with two towers, located to the south and west, close to the building (not yet built).
This tower, known as Pfaffen Thurm pre-exists in 1499, when a road was built that leads to its feet, the Pffafengass, now Rue du Dôme. Our street !
The second half of the 14th century was not easy for the city of Boersch. It will indeed pass from hand to hand, often as a result of assaults, looting or transfers.
In 1406, Boersch was finally ceded to the city of Strasbourg and then to the dean of the Grand Chapter of Strasbourg.
During the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries,the enclosure was once again subjected to numerous assaults.Boersch was initially the object of a siege by the episcopal troops, who tried in vain to take the city between 1419 and 1422.
Subsequently Boersch was besieged by the Protestant troops of Strasbourg in 1592 then by that of Mansfeld in 1622 and those of Marshal Gustave Horn in 1632.
In 1636, particularly striking, the city was looted by Swedish troops and then taken by French troops in 1676.
On the occasion of these many sieges, part of the fortifications is destroyed and
and the city is largely ruined and the city is largely ruined so much that it has now become impossible for it to bear the ordinary costs, charges and expenses of the city. The conservation of walls, towers and gates of fortifications becomes illusory.
In 1758, the Pfaffenturm was levelled to the level of the wall and covered with stone slabs (currently visible in the garden next to that of our house).
The eventful history of our town is now settled, what about the building ?
We invite you to discover the history of our building soon in part 2.