The Basel engineer Johann Jacob Fetcher built the "Haus zum Ritter" (House of the Knight) between 1756 and 1757. It stood on the south side of the Münsterplatz (Cathedral Square) on the site of three previous buildings from the Middle Ages used by the knighthood of the Breisgau. In 1766, the community house was sold to Breisgau's Landstände (a body of representatives from various classes) and used as a meeting place for prelates, noble knights, and the 13 rulers of the Breisgau cities.

When the Breisgau was handed over to Baden (1806), the house became the grand duke's court. With the handover of the archbishopric in 1832, archbishop used it as his palace.

The facade facing the Münsterplatz (Cathedral Square) has seven sections. An ornamental, gilded-grilled balcony hangs over the middle arch , which is almost completely filled by the entrance portal. The rear facade extends into the Schusterstraße.

The "Haus zum Ritter" burned completely out in 1944, but was rebuilt in 1953. Since then, it serves as the bishop's administrative offices.

The house facades were renovated in 1996.