Riquet House (Riquethaus)

The Riquet House was built in 1908-1909 as a commercial building and was in turn one of the most modern and original new buildings in Leipzig. The tradition of Riquet dates back to 1745.

The name Riquet is based on a French Huguenot family who emigrated from France. The descendants operated a coffee, tea and spice trade. Later, a cocoa production followed. A fantastic building.

Riquet Café, Leipzig
From tea and coffee importer to chocolate factory
In November 1745, the Huguenot Jean George Riquet (1713–1791) founded the company Riquet & Co on nearby Katharinenstrasse as a business for the import of tea, coffee and other exotic items, later supplemented by a public coffee bar. After a short time, the name Riquet was well known in the world of coffee and high society with their gallant lifestyles far beyond Saxony. No wonder that the young Goethe didn't just think of balls and concerts when he raved about Little Paris. As an avowed fan of Riquet chocolate, he even had it sent to him when he was on the road and was also in close correspondence with the company founder. Under the direction of the Leipzig architect Paul Lange, the first preliminary plans for the renovation of the Riquethaus began in 1907 at its current location, in what contemporaries were convinced was one of the “most promising streets”.
Text / Source: Kaffeehaus, Riquet, Schuhmachergäßchen 1, Leipzig
riquethaus.de/historie