Weissemburg Abbey Church

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:

• Wikipedia

Address

Avenue de la sous Préfecture 14, Wissembourg, France

Details

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