St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Wissembourg

The Church of St. Peter and Paul ( French: Église Saints- Pierre -et -Paul ) is a former Benedictine abbey church of 1524 secularized the city of Wissembourg in northern Alsace. With its internal floor area of 1320 m² (60 m length and 22 m width), it is one of the largest and most impressive churches in the Bas- Rhin outside of Strasbourg.

History

The mainly Gothic building still has a laterally positioned Romanesque bell tower from the previous building, which was built in the 11th century under the direction of Abbot Samuel.

The present church was built mostly in the 13th century under the direction of Abbot Edelin.

Equipment

During the French Revolution the interior of the church was damaged and irreparably destroyed in part, the time of its famous Romanesque chandelier, of which only a simplified copy of the 19th century has survived.

Inside, however, are still more sights, above all, stained glass windows and wall paintings from the 14-15. Century, including an eleven -meter-high representation of St. Christopher, as well as sculptures.

The church also has a largely set back to its original state organ from 1766 in one of the most magnificent Baroque housing of Alsace, the work of the organ builder Louis Dubois .. The instrument was restored from 2010 to 2012.

In the south transept is also located an organ from home Roethinger, in a for that time (1953 ) representative modern and now also historic architectural style.

From the old monastery White Castle, where the monk Otfrid of White Castle had, an unfinished high Gothic cloister is only left, but who is considered one of the most beautiful of the Upper Rhine. Attached to this is a former Romanesque chapter house (12th century), who now serves as a side chapel.