Romanesque Art in Alsace

25 May 2022

Romanesque art in Alsace differs from that of neighbouring regions but shares many similarities.

Alsace is situated in the Upper Rhine region and has long been a crossroads of Latin and Germanic cultures. It can also be seen in the influences of Lombardy and other Italian regions, as well as Burgundy, Auvergne, and other regions in France, the Rhine region and southern Germany, and north-western Switzerland.

After the division of the Carolingian Empire in 843 (Treaty of Verdun), Alsace initially belonged to the Middle Kingdom, which stretched from what is now the Netherlands to Italy. This empire did not last long and was again divided among other rulers.

The last Carolingians were followed by the kings and emperors (from 962) of the Holy Roman Empire: the Ottonians (919-1024), the Salians (1024-1125) and the Staufers (1138-1250).

Ottmarsheim Abbey. Photo: TES

The first Romanesque art in Alsace dates back to the 11th century, at the end of the Ottonian era. The architecture of this period bears witness to the Carolingian tradition (for example, in Ottmarsheim, Epfig, Saint-Ulric d’Avolsheim, Dompeter, Altenstadt or Hohatzenheim).

Above all, the octagonal interior of the Ottmarsheim monastery church is reminiscent of the Aachen Cathedral, which Charlemagne built (747-814) between 796 and 804.

The 12th century and the first quarter of the 13th century were the golden age of Romanesque art in Alsace. This heyday coincided with the reign of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, especially under Frederick I, better known as Frederick Barbarossa (1122-1190).

The Route Romane d’Alsace (Romanesque Road in Alsace) promotes this artistic and cultural heritage. The route encompasses the entire region and features over 120 sites.

This route showcases Alsace’s original Romanesque style and its exchange with the aforementioned regions.

(Source and further information: www.route-romane-alsace.fr)