Church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul

The church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul is a Romanesque abbey building with an unusual octagonal floor plan topped by a central dome. Walls of pale yellow-gray limestone are combined with rose-colored sandstone from the Vosges, creating a soft two-tone appearance.

A count named Rudolf von Altenburg founded the abbey in 1030, establishing an important religious center in the region. Pope Leo IX, himself an Alsatian, consecrated the completed church in 1049.

The octagonal layout draws from sacred buildings visitors recognized from stories and pilgrimages, making this a place that connected local communities to the wider Christian world. The shape itself became a spiritual statement, visible to anyone who entered.

Tours in French and German help visitors understand the interior and its details throughout the year. Free parking spaces are available for cars, coaches, and bicycles near the entrance.

Original frescoes from the 11th and 15th centuries lay hidden under plaster for centuries until renovation work exposed them following a series of fires. These wall paintings reveal the artistic traditions that decorated the space when monks walked these halls.

Location: Ottmarsheim

Inception: 1049

Founders: Rudolph I

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Part of: Kloster Ottmarsheim

Address: rue de l'Église

GPS coordinates: 47.78732,7.50758

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44