Old Customs House

This building, erected at the beginning of the 16th century in 1518, stands on the now underground banks of the Moder River. It served an essential function: the customs office taxed and controlled the conformity of goods entering and leaving the city. Above its main entrance, a sundial dating from the late 19th century draws the eye. It depicts two knights in armor whose lances serve as hands to indicate the time. To the right of the entrance, a wrought iron sign comes from a former local tavern called the "Golden Barrel." The barrel and the basket filled with barley ears symbolize beer, while the star, the brewers' emblem, indicates that beer was brewed on site. Today, the upper floor of the old customs house houses a prestigious hall where many events take place. Observing the left corner of the building, one discovers marks and an inscription carved into the stone. They indicate the height reached by the waters of the Moder during the floods of 1544 and 1734. Higher up, a bust of a young woman attracts attention. Holding a wine measure in her hands and wearing a chain with the emblematic rose of Haguenau as a pendant, she embodies an official customs figure.