House of Heads, Colmar

Each time I passed in front of the Maison des Têtes (House of the Heads); I wondered what had inspired the merchant Anton Burger in 1609 to build this manor in German Renaissance with its 111 grotesque heads or masks on the frontage!?

The façade is beautiful with its oriel which rises on three stages. The gable is surmounted by a statue, representing a cooper, made in 1902 by the sculptor Bartholdi.
The porch opens on a paved yard. The house, when built, was leaning against the fortifications of the Old Colmar. It has been a "Bourse aux vins" wine exchange office, then a restaurant and a hotel.

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A chaque passage devant la Maison des Têtes, je me suis demandé ce qui avait inspiré le marchand Anton Burger en 1609 de faire construire cet édifice de la Renaissance allemande avec ses 111 têtes ou masques grotesques sur la façade!?

La façade est belle avec son oriel, une avancée en encorbellement, qui s'élève sur trois étages. Le pignon est surmonté d'une statue, représentant un tonnelier, réalisé en 1902 par le sculpteur Bartholdi.
Le porche ouvre sur une cour pavée. La maison, adossée dans les temps anciens aux fortifications du Vieux Colmar, a été une bourse aux vins, ensuite un restaurant et un hôtel.

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The Maison des Tetes was built in 1609 for the merchant Anton Burger. Its facade has three levels of mullioned windows below a gabled top that is crowned with a Bartholdi statue. The lower three levels are decorated with rows of sculptures ranging from carytids to heads to grotesques. It now houses a restaurant.

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"Built in 1609 for the merchant Anton Burger, who in 1626 became the Stettmeister (mayor) of this town, this building, which is documented from 1724, owes its name to the large number of masks and grimacing faces which decorate the facade. The magnificently sculpted oriel rises to three levels. The statue of the Alsace barrel-maker, made by Auguste Bartholdi in 1902, took up position at the top of the gable, after the building was used as the Colmar Bourse aux Vines [Wine Exchange]."

The Kopfhaus (House of Heads) is a magnificent example of German Renaissance architecture. It was built 1609 for the merchant Antonius Burger.

It got its name because of the many heads (or masks) which decorate the alcove.

On top of the gable you can see a statue by Bartholdi (1902)

The House of Heads is a beautiful if somewhat spooky building with over 100 heads (masks) on the facade. It was built in the early 1600s for a wealthy local merchant and in the 19th Century became the wine exchange. Since then it has featured the statue of the cooper (barrel maker) on top. This statue was done by local sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi who also did the Statue of Liberty. In my home town we have a delightful and delicious restaurant called Cafe Alsace. I am proud to say that they have a framed copy of this photograph in the restaurant.

I've never been inside the building but I took pictures of it because I felt very impressed about the architecture of this building.
A part of this magnificent 17th century house is built in the ancient ditch of the surrounding walls.

La maison des Têtes

Built in 1609 for Colmar merchant Anton Burger, this gothic/renaissance home is decorated with over 100 fantastic faces. The building is now a hotel.

Walk by and appreciate the wonderful stone carvings that adorn this facade, or better yet, spend a night here (see Hotel tips).

The House of Heads is everybody's favorite Colmar attraction. The fascinating looking building was built in 1609 by an affluent merchant, who later became the town's mayor. The gable is topped with a statue of an Alsatian cooper by Bartholdi.

“Maison de Tête” (“House of heads”) (XVII century), so named because the façade is covered with over a hundred animal heads and faces, a double “loggia” and a statue of Bartholdi.

House of Heads - this Renaissance house was built in 1608 and is known for its numerous carved heads decorating the facade. It is now a restaurant and a popular tourist spot.