Alsace Half-Timbered Houses

There has been and there remains today a strong Germanic influence on the architecture found in the Alsace region of France. Alsace house types and the materials used can be categorized in the wide German «pan de bois» (half-timbering) architectural family. This architectural family uses many local symbols and decorations. These symbols appear on porches, doors and on the pieces of wood used to make the half-timbered walls.

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The popularity of half-timbering in Alsace means that wood is a primary product used in the structure of an Alsace house. Roof tiles are generally brown or red and flat. Many symbols are used on the houses that either refer to religious beliefs, popular wisdom or ancient Alsatian legends.

The walls are filled using cob, only then is the floor and the roof structure built. The wooden framework is naturally strong and rigid once erected, the strength of the structure can be supplemented using wood plugs. Screws or nails are never used in the traditional carpentry techniques of Alsace. The walls are traditionally painted, you may for example see purple walls on some houses in this region of France.

Alsace houses generally come with a cellar. The garden often boasts a porch, porches vary in size depending on the area of Alsace.

Like in other regions of France, traditional rural houses in Alsace were often originally farm dwellings. Once the house was built, the new owner typically organised a meal as thanks to the workers involved and the family would go to the nearest temple or church to get it blessed by a priest.

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In the Alsace region of France, traditional houses are as follows:

• The houses generally have a long entrance hall, ending with a stairway leading to the first floor.
• A room is traditionally reserved for the grandparents, and another one serves as a multifunctional communal area, serving as a living room, dining room, reception room, bedroom. The interior walls boast decorative mouldings in most cases.
• A stove is used to heat the whole room and warms the heart of the building. The hallway also typically leads to a small kitchen and utility room.
• Upstairs, usually above the kitchen, there is a smoking room, several bedrooms that would be traditionally kitted out with a few pieces of furniture.
• A door allows access to the balcony and stairs lead to the attic. A small balcony is commonly found on many Alsace houses.

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