Corps de Garde de Colmar (Colmar Guardhouse), Colmar

Welcome to the Colmar Guardhouse (Corps de Garde de Colmar), a striking example of Upper Rhine Renaissance architecture situated in Colmar’s picturesque Old Town. Built in 1575 under master builder Beier Melchior, this historic monument originally stood atop the 12th‑century Saint‑Jacques chapel, a former ossuary whose arches are still visible in the rear wall of the building. Its design reflects the elegance of the Rhenish Renaissance, marked by Tuscan columns with lion‐head capitals, a scroll‑framed medallion, and a beautifully ornamented loggia used by magistrates to pronounce sentences and oversee markets.

Originally intended as a town hall, the building’s ground floor later housed the town guard, while covered arches hosted a market for nuts and oilseeds. The loggia, added between 1577 and 1582, served as an official platform for oaths and proclamations, making it both a judicial and civic stage. Inside, a wooden spiral staircase leads to the first‑floor ceremonial chamber, which retains original painted décor and a decorative beam inscribed with the date MDLXXV (1575).

Over the centuries, the Guardhouse took on various roles-from a municipal justice building and guild hall, to a military housing office and police station beginning around 1860. Today, its facades, roofs, staircase, and ceremonial rooms are listed as historic monuments (since 1958), while its former ossuary is separately protected since 1991.

Situated directly opposite the magnificent Collegiate Church of Saint Martin, this gem enriches the charm of Cathedral Square (Place de la Cathédrale), alongside other Renaissance landmarks like the Pfister House and Adolph House. A visit here is perfect during off‑peak hours-early morning or late afternoon-when light enhances the architectural details, and the nearby cafés and half‑timbered streets of “Little Venice” bring Colmar’s ambiance to life. Whether you’re a history lover, an architecture enthusiast, or simply meandering through this fairy‑tale town, the Guardhouse offers a meaningful window into Colmar’s layered heritage.