Riquewihr has a wide variety of half-timbered houses, fàchwarikhûs in Alsatian. They often have two entrances: the porch and the pedestrian gate. The structure of the Alsatian house is always the work of a carpenter. It is stabilized by a system of beams forming the frame of the walls. Each beam is numbered in Roman numerals. They shape figures with secret symbolism such as virility, strength, femininity, fertility, or protection. In the wealthiest residences, the corner post is carved in a Renaissance or Baroque style.