The Saint John Commandery

Founded in Sélestat in the 13th century, the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John was tasked with training Alsatian nobles to defend Christianity in the western Mediterranean. Of the monastic complex established in 1265, only two emblematic buildings remain today: the Ritterhof, built in 1410 and nicknamed the House of the Monk-Knights, and the Prior's House, erected in 1565. The latter building, with a quadrangular plan and three levels, illustrates a pivotal period of the Renaissance in Sélestat, reflecting the architectural features of the second half of the 16th century. The turret door, inspired by Gothic style, and the spiral stringer staircase, marked by stonemasons' traces, bear witness to this evolution. Today, these sites house municipal services and are open to the public on weekdays during office hours.