St. Faith's Church, Sélestat, France

The Church of Saint Faith of Sélestat is a major Romanesque architecture landmark in Sélestat along the Route Romane d'Alsace in the East of France. The church was built over a very short time span (only ten years, from 1170 to 1180) and it appears strikingly homogenous in style and proportions. Some parts have been completed and others modified in a Romanesque Revival style by the architect Charles Winckler between 1889 and 1893. During that restoration campaign, a crypt dating back to around 1085 was discovered and made accessible as well. Like many major buildings in Alsace the church is made of pink Vosges mountains sandstone.

Among the churches many features, the ornate capitals crowning the columns inside and pillars of the windows outside belong to the finest. Saint Faith's two pipe organs (the tribune organ of 1892 and the choir organ of 1880) have been repaired several times since their installation, they do however still show beautifully crafted cases.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

B.D (11 months ago)
Built by the Benedictine monks ?of the Sainte-Foy abbey in Conques, it is a major building of Romanesque architecture in the heart of the town of Sélestat. Its construction in pink sandstone which gives it its characteristic color began in 1170 and was completed in 1180. The baroque style preaching pulpit contrasts sharply with the Romanesque style of the church. This pulpit is one of the vestiges of the modifications made during the arrival of the Jesuits in the 17th century.

Manuel Garcia (18 months ago)
Beautiful building

Aparna Krishnakumar (19 months ago)
Beautifully built romanesque church in the heart of selestat.

Lexie Rem (5 years ago)
You have to visit the Church of St. Foy in Selestat, it's really beautiful.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Wikimedia Commons

Historic Site of the week

Château du Lude

The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.

St. Faith's Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Château du Lude