Weissemburg Abbey Church, Wissembourg, France

Weissenburg Abbey was founded in 661 by the Bishop of Speyer, Dragobodo. It developed quickly into one of the wealthiest and culturally most significant abbeys in Germany. In 1262–1293, during the time of its decline, Abbot Edelin attempted to halt the loss of the monastic estates and to recover its stolen property by compiling a record of the abbey's possessions in a new register. This index, called the Codex Edelini or Liber Possessionum, is currently held in the Speyer State Archives. Edelin is credited with building the Gothic abbey church, which still stands today. The church incorporated a Romanesque bell tower, the sole remains of the earlier church built in the 11th century under the direction of abbot Samuel.

In 1524, the abbey, now entirely destitute, was turned into a secular collegiate church at the instigation of its last abbot, Rüdiger Fischer, which was then united with the Bishopric of Speyer in 1546. In the wake of the French Revolution the foundation was dissolved in 1789.

Abbey Church

St. Peter and St. Paul's Church is most probably is the second largest Gothic church in Bas-Rhin area. The church displays a Romanesque bell tower, the sole remain of the church built in the 11th century. The major part of the currently visible church was built in the late 13th century. During the 14th and 15th century, the church was richly decorated with stained glass, sculptures and mural paintings but only parts of the former abundance of works survived the vandalism which occurred during the French Revolution.

The church contains a fresco representing Saint Christopher: with its height of 11 m, is the largest painted human figure on French territory.

Among the church's remaining treasures features a pipe organ, built by Louis Dubois in 1766 in one of the largest baroque organ cases in Alsace.

References:

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User Reviews

Io Lo (2 years ago)
The first building was erected on this site in the seventh century AD. And the building that we see now was built in the 13th century, that is, the church is quite old with a great not only religious, but also historical tradition. We had a very hot day, but nevertheless it was cool and calm inside. Unusual is the placement of an additional musical organ on the side of the altar. You will find such an arrangement not in every church.

Corey Reimer (2 years ago)
This was a beautiful church, we enjoyed our walk through it.

Edin H. (3 years ago)
I love the beautiful tower seen from every corner of the city. After Strasbourg, this is the biggest cathedral in Alsace. The entrance is free and church is worth seeing.

Lenny (5 years ago)
Nice old church with a small exhibition in the church and in the chapel next to the church.

Ronald Halim (7 years ago)
A serene gothic church at the entrance of the town.

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

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Weissemburg Abbey Church

Abbey Church

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