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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Agathe church of Gundolsheim, located in the Haut-Rhin department in the Grand Est region, is a religious monument dating back to the 11th century. The current neo-classical building was rebuilt in 1834 by departmental architect Jacques Marie Félix Griois after the destruction of the early church around 1830. Only the Romanesque tower, dated from the 12th century and classified as Historic Monument in 1841, was preserved, integrated into the new building.

The Romanesque tower, from square to base and then octagonal, is a remarkable vestige of Alsatian medieval architecture. It has typical features of the 12th century, such as twined bays in full hanger, cubic capital columns, and a masonry arrow. Its unusual location, with a door to the east and a lateral access to the nave, suggests that it could have served as a peg tower, although its position relative to Main Street remains enigmatic.

The interior of the church combines old and modern elements: the floor is raised by five steps compared to the choir, covered with sandstone slabs. The ground floor of the tower is arched, while the nave, rebuilt in the 19th century, has a harmonious neo-classical style. The south side door, adorned with a volute cornice and a dated inscription, bears witness to the additions to the medieval structure.

The church of Sainte-Agathe thus illustrates a superposition of architectural styles, mixing Romanesque heritage and 19th century reconstruction. Its bell tower, comparable to that of the church of Saint-Léger in Guebwiller, makes it a notable example of the Alsatian religious heritage, protected and enhanced since its classification in 1841.

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