Andlau Abbey Church

Andlau, France

Andlau Abbey was a women's collegiate foundation for secular canonesses located at Andlau in Alsace. Andlau Abbey was founded in or about 880 by Richardis, later Saint Richardis, empress of Charles the Fat, on her ancestral lands. The abbey survived the Reformation, thanks to the efforts of the Abbess Rebstock, who is commemorated in the present church, but not the French Revolution.

A number of the monastic buildings are still extant. In particular, the former abbey church survives as the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul. The original buildings were from around 880. The abbey was entirely rebuilt in the first half of the 11th century. When Pope Leo XI passed through Andlau in November of that year he was able to translate the remains of the canonised Richardis from the old church to the new Romanesque one. Nothing remains of the first buildings (except for a hole in the floor of the crypt said to have been made by the she-bear). The crypt itself dates from the 11th century. Another major re-construction took place in the 12th century after a serious fire, and another in the 15th century. The nave was completely rebuilt in the late 17th century. The present tomb of Saint Richardis dates from 1350, and is sited in a Baroque chapel of 1707.

The church is however most notable for its rich sculptural decoration, by the Master of Andlau, which is among the finest in Alsace.

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Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Valerie Baldon (2 years ago)
Very interesting with the explanations given to the @laseigneurie
Marie Jo Oster (3 years ago)
Very nice to see
Céleste Lavigne (3 years ago)
This Abbey is simply magnificent. By its size, its architecture and its history, it is just essential in a visit to the sector. My favorite happens to be the chapel located under the hotel.
Do Avola (7 years ago)
Beautiful place we had the chance to meet the lady who takes care of the place and who gave us a very nice explanatory visit
Mark Hassner (8 years ago)
This church has a beautiful story: Queen Rishard said that a bear appeared to her in a dream and told her to build a place there that would be a shelter for the queen's cub just as the bear guards her cubs. They built a Romanesque-style church there, the remains of which are still found in the crypt of the current church, which is Gothic in style and named after Peter and Paul. In the crypt, there is a large statue of a bear (there are also such statues in the town, including one that shows, of course, a bear eating grapes) and a lot of small sculptures that can be A basis for a lot of research on medieval art. At the main entrance, an ad including in Hebrew wishing us a happy new year (Rosh Hashanah in about two weeks). Beautiful.
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