Église Saint-Étienne, Gothic Revival church in Mulhouse, France.
Église Saint-Étienne is a Gothic Revival church with a rectangular floor plan, dominated by a soaring bell tower that rises 97 meters above the city's roofline. Inside, large leaded-glass windows dating from the 14th century and ornate wooden choir stalls from the 1600s define the interior character.
An earlier parish church dating from the 12th century stood at this location before being replaced in 1866 by architect Jean-Baptiste Schacre's Gothic Revival design. The tower received five bells cast in Zurich in 1867, establishing this as the largest bell collection in any Protestant church across France.
The church has long served as a spiritual center for the city and remains a place where different communities gather for worship. The stained-glass windows and wooden choir furnishings inside reflect the artistic traditions that shaped religious life in this region.
The church is usually open to visitors during daytime hours, though access may be limited during religious services or celebrations. It is worth checking ahead for special events that might affect visiting times or areas of the building that are accessible.
The bell tower holds France's largest collection of bells in a Protestant church, five bells specially cast in Zurich for this building. This impressive ensemble makes the tower an acoustic landmark of the city, marking time with a distinctive sound that residents have heard for generations.
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