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> Culture and heritage > Religious heritage
Romanesque art
Simple decorative schemes and styling
From the 10th century onwards, new Romanesque abbeys and churches were beginning to appear in Alsace. These were characterised by their simple decorative schemes and styling, with the main detailed sculptures being reserved for the portal. In Alsace, the Romanesque churches adopted the Latin cross layout, with their extended nave representing the longest arm of the crucifix.
The Romanesque route
The tourist trail provides a great opportunity to discover the region's Romanesque heritage sites, comprising its ancient abbeys and churches. Here are the main stages of the Romanesque route running from the north to the south of Alsace:
• The Abbey of Saint Martin in Marmoutier (6th century), which is the oldest in Alsace. Its facade, its only Romanesque feature, takes the form of a majestic westwork reminiscent of Carolingian architecture.
• The Abbey of Saint Trophime in Eschau (8th century), which is home to the relics of St Sophie, topped by a wooden sculpture dating from 1470.
• The Church of Saints Pierre and Paul in Rosheim (12th century), which perfectly illustrates the golden age of Alsatian Romanesque art, and whose large, impressive interior made from yellow sandstone is richly embellished with sculptures.
• The Abbey of Saints Pierre and Paul in Andlau (9th century), which features Alsace's finest Romanesque sculptures, and which among other things is home to a 30-metre high historied frieze featuring epic and mythological themes.
• The Benedictine Priory of St Foy in Sélestat (11th century), built in accordance with the Benedictine layout comprising three naves and three apses. Overlooked by three towers, its interior décor is focused on its cube-shaped capitals decorated with floral patterns.
• The Benedictine abbey of Saint Léger in Murbach (8th century) characterised by its elegant decorative facade and windowless gallery with colums, decorated with sculptures representing animals, faces and geometric shapes.
• The Church of Saint Léger in Guebwiller, which is characterised by its late Rhenish Romanesque style. It combines influences from Burgundy, Lombardy and Switzerland, also borrowing a number of features from the Gothic style.
• The abbey of Saints Pierre and Paul in Ottmarsheim and its octagonal layout inspired by the Palatine Chapel of Aix-la-Chapelle is Alsace's only example of Carolingian architecture.
