Route Romane d'Alsace
Encyclopedia
The Route Romane d'Alsace (Romanesque Road of Alsace) is a touristic itinerary designed by the Association Voix et Route Romane to link both the well-known and the more secret examples of Romanesque architecture
of Alsace
, in an itinerary of 19 stages, linking churches, abbey
s and fortresses
, that range from the first Romanesque structures of Alsace at the abbey church of Saint Trophime, Eschau
, into the 13th century, and the beginning of Gothic architecture
in Alsace.
From north to south, the Route Romane d'Alsace traverses the Bas-Rhin
and the Haut-Rhin
, passing through:
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, in an itinerary of 19 stages, linking churches, abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
s and fortresses
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, that range from the first Romanesque structures of Alsace at the abbey church of Saint Trophime, Eschau
Eschau
Eschau is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany.- Location :Eschau lies in the Bavarian Lower Main Region....
, into the 13th century, and the beginning of Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
in Alsace.
From north to south, the Route Romane d'Alsace traverses the Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
and the Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
, passing through:
- WissembourgWissembourgWissembourg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in northeastern France.It is situated on the little River Lauter close to the border between France and Germany approximately north of Strasbourg and west of Karlsruhe. Wissembourg is a sub-prefecture of the department...
: Église Saints-Pierre-et-PaulSt. Peter and St. Paul's Church, WissembourgSt. Peter and St. Paul's Church of Wissembourg is frequently, but incorrectly, referred to as the second largest Gothic church of Alsace after Strasbourg Cathedral. However, the building, with its interior ground surface area of 1320 m² most probably is the second largest Gothic church in...
, Gothic church with remains of a previous Romanesque building - AltenstadtWissembourgWissembourg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in northeastern France.It is situated on the little River Lauter close to the border between France and Germany approximately north of Strasbourg and west of Karlsruhe. Wissembourg is a sub-prefecture of the department...
: Church of Saint Ulrich, 12th century. - SurbourgSurbourgSurbourg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Arbogast, 11th century. - Neuwiller-lès-SaverneNeuwiller-lès-SaverneNeuwiller-lès-Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, 12th century, with modern restorations. - Saint-Jean-SaverneSaint-Jean-SaverneSaint-Jean-Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
: Church of Saint Jean Baptiste, 10th century. - MarmoutierMarmoutierMarmoutier is a commune in the Bas-Rhin département in Alsace in north-eastern France. The origin of the place is the former Marmoutier Abbey, of which the abbey church still serves as the parish church. It is a commune in the Bas-Rhin département in Alsace in north-eastern France.-History:In 590 St...
: Church of Saint Martin, the former abbey church of MarmoutierMarmoutier Abbey (Alsace)Marmoutier Abbey, otherwise Maursmünster Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery in the commune of Marmoutier in Alsace.-History:The first foundation here, either in the late 6th century, or by Saint Leobard in 659, was a community of Irish monks under the Rule of St. Columbanus...
, 12th century. - ObersteigenWangenbourg-EngenthalWangenbourg-Engenthal is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The commune is not a single settlement, but rather an administrative unit comprising the following eight mountain hamlets:...
: Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin, 13th century. - StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
: Vaulted cryptCryptIn architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
beneath Notre-Dame de StrasbourgStrasbourg CathedralStrasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely consideredSusan Bernstein: , The Johns Hopkins University Press to be among the finest...
; Church of Saint Etienne, 12th century; Church of Saint ThomasSaint Thomas Church (Strasbourg)The Saint-Thomas Church is a historical building in Strasbourg, eastern France. It is the main Protestant church of the city since its Cathedral became Catholic again after the annexation of the town by France in 1681...
, cloister of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant ChurchSaint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant ChurchThe Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church is one of the most important church buildings of the city of Strasbourg, France, from the art historical and architectural viewpoints. It got its name, "Young St. Peter's", because of the existence of three other St. Peter's churches in the same city:...
. - EschauEschau, Bas-RhinEschau is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is situated 8 km south of Strasbourg.-References:*...
: Abbey Church of Saint Trophime - RosheimRosheimRosheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It lies southwest of Strasbourg, on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains...
: Church of Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, 12th century. - AndlauAndlauAndlau is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village owes its origin to Andlau Abbey which was founded in AD 880 by Richardis, the Empress of Charles the Fat...
: Church of Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, the former church of Andlau AbbeyAndlau AbbeyAndlau Abbey was a women's collegiate foundation for secular canonesses located at Andlau in Alsace, eastern France.-History:...
, 10th to 12th centuries. - EpfigEpfigEpfig is a commune, in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Romanesque Chapel of Sainte Marguerite, 11th century. - SélestatSélestatSélestat is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.In 2006, Sélestat had a total population of 19,459. The Communauté de communes de Sélestat et environs had a total population of 35,397.-Geography:...
: Church of Sainte FoySt. Faith's Church, SélestatThe Roman Catholic Church of Saint Faith of Sélestat is a major Romanesque architecture landmark along the Route Romane d'Alsace in the East of France...
, 12th century. - SigolsheimSigolsheimSigolsheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, 12th centuiry. - KaysersbergKaysersbergKaysersberg is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The inhabitants are called Kaysersbergeois. The name means Emperor's Mountain in German....
: Church of Sainte Croix. - GueberschwihrGueberschwihrGueberschwihr is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Pantaléon, 12th century. - RouffachRouffachRouffach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Rouffach lies along the Alsatian wine route ....
: Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, RouffachÉglise Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, RouffachThe Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption is the parish church of the town of Rouffach in southern Alsace and one of the largest medieval churches in the Haut-Rhin département of France. The church is also known as Saint-Arbogast Church .It lies on the "Route Romane d'Alsace"... - LautenbachLautenbach, Haut-RhinLautenbach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Collégiale de Lautenbach - MurbachMurbachMurbach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Murbach Abbey is located near Murbach.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Léger.Murbach AbbeyMurbach Abbey was a famous Benedictine monastery in Murbach, southern Alsace, in a valley at the foot of the Grand Ballon in the Vosges.The monastery was founded in 727 by Eberhard, Count of Alsace, and established as a Benedictine house by Saint Pirmin. Its territory once comprised 3 towns and 30... - GuebwillerGuebwillerGuebwiller is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is situated northwest of Mulhouse at the foot of the Vosges mountains...
: Church of Saint Léger, early 13th century. - OttmarsheimOttmarsheimOttmarsheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
: Church of Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, 11th century. - FeldbachFeldbachFeldbach is the name of several places:* Feldbach, Switzerland, a village near Rapperswil, Switzerland* Feldbach, Haut-Rhin, a commune in the Haut-Rhin département in France* Feldbach, Austria, a town in the state Styria, in Austria...
: Church of Saint Jacques.