“A curious passage under the arcades” you whisper. Welcome to Rue Gutenberg in Strasbourg. This isn’t just any street. It’s a living history book. Its name honors Johannes Gutenberg the inventor of movable type. Before 1962 this was part of the Grand’Rue. The Grande-Percée a major urban renewal project in the 1930s split the Grand’Rue. The shorter section became Rue Gutenberg in 1963.
Notice the buildings. Many date back to the 18th century. Some survived the 1944 bombing others were rebuilt in the 1950s. Look at number two. It stands where the Scharwächterhus once stood. That was the guardhouse a building documented as early as 1403. The current building is from 1747. Note its sandstone window frames. See the passage under the arcades? It wasn’t always visible.
Number six was home to several pharmacists in the 17th century. Rebuilt in 1763 it was destroyed in 1944. It was replaced around 1950. Numbers eight and ten share a similar fate. 17th-century structures destroyed and then rebuilt.
Now turn your attention to number sixteen. Wealthy Strasbourg merchants the Ingolds owned this house in the 16th century. It became a meeting place for Huguenot refugees in 1585. Notice the portal? It’s a masterpiece. It blends German Baroque and Rococo styles. It’s been a protected monument since 1929.
Number eighteen belonged to the Ingolds too. Italian merchant François Longho bought it in 1728. He updated the facade in 1741. See the sculpted heads above the windows? They might represent the four seasons and the four points of the compass. A small niche holds a statue of Saint Joseph and the infant Jesus.
Look at number twenty. That’s a Renaissance building. Its oriel window dates back to the 16th century. This facade too is a protected monument since 1929. Number twenty-two is late Renaissance built in 1670. Its oriel is another protected monument.
Across the street is number three. Rebuilt in the 1930s after being destroyed in 1944. The building at number five is special. It’s the former Hotel de la Tribu des Marchands. The inscription TRIBU DES MARCHANDS MDCCLXXXV is visible on the rear facade. Built between 1782 and 1785 it has neoclassical decor. Its facades and the old concert hall are classified historical monuments.
Number seven was built in 1865. It replaced a 17th-century house. Number nine dates back to around 1720. It has trompe-l’oeil painted decor on the facade. Rue Gutenberg. More than just a street. A timeline of Strasbourg’s history. A tribute to Gutenberg’s legacy. Enjoy the rest of your walk.