Embleme de tanneur, Strasbourg Travel Guide

Located in the heart of Strasbourg's picturesque Petite France neighborhood, the "Embleme de Tanneur" (Tanner's Emblem) serves as a subtle reminder of the area's rich history of leatherworking. In the past, this area was home to numerous tanneries that used the nearby waterways for their craft. Tanners were specialists in processing bovine hides into leather, a crucial trade in the region. The treated hides were then dried in the lofts of the buildings, which had large openings to allow for air circulation.As you stroll along Rue des Dentelles (which translates to Lace Street), look for number 10. Despite its name, the street was never home to lacemakers; instead, the name comes from a corruption of the German word "Spitze" (point), referring to the angle formed by the street. On the building at number 10, you can spot the tanner's emblem on the lower left corner of the window frame on the first floor. The emblem usually features a scraper, sometimes two, arranged in a saltire. Another example, though harder to access, can be found in the inner courtyard of number 2 Rue des Dentelles.While the tanning trade has faded from Strasbourg, these emblems remain as historical markers, connecting the present with the city's industrious past. The Petite France district, with its charming half-timbered houses and canals, provides a beautiful backdrop for discovering these hidden historical details.