Last minute offers
Rhine boat trip
À partir de 210€
Details...
Rhine boat trip
À partir de 210€
Details...
> Regional culture > Architecture
Rural accommodation
The farms on the Alsatian plain
The plain farms generally comprise separate buildings laid out around a huge courtyard. This yard may be enclosed by a porch as seen at the Kochersberg, or may feature an open layout. In the north and south of the Alsatian plains, farms are often of a more modest size, comprising a main dwelling which includes the home, barn and stable. This is the case with the farms found in the Outre Forêt or Sundgau areas. Despite these differences in style, which are related to local traditions, living conditions and lifestyles, a number of key aspects are common to Alsatian accommodation as a whole. As an example, the timber-framed construction method featuring exposed beams can be admired in all of the region's farms.
Winegrowers' houses
Some excellent examples of this type of building can be admired at Mittelbergheim, Andlau, Obernai, Hunawihr, Kaysersberg or Ribeauvillé. The winegrowers' houses and their courtyards are usually very cramped. Typically they include several floors and a half-timbered structure, the number of floors varying according to the affluence of the family. Stone-built and often half buried, the ground floor is used entirely as a wine cellar and press room.
Homes in the mountains and valleys
The architecture of the mountain valleys differs substantially from that found on the plains, with the influence of the neighbouring Vosges range being clearly visible. As a result, the stone-built mountain farms usually comprise a single block including the main dwelling, the barn and the stable, with small rooms being easier to heat.
