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Origin and history

The St. Lawrence Church of La Bresse, dedicated to Saint Laurent, is a Catholic building located in the Vosges department, in the Greater East Region. Built in sandstone thanks to an exchange of boards for local stones, it was consecrated in 1758 by the bishop of Toul. This monument, the oldest in the commune, dominates the Moselotte valley at 643 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Hautes Vosges.

A fire devastated the church in 1803, requiring its enlargement during the 19th century. During the Second World War, La Bresse suffered massive destruction (80% of the razed city), and the church, partially devastated, was restored after 1945. The stained glass windows, designed by Gabriel Loire between 1952 and 1956 in collaboration with architect Émile Deschler and sculptor Lambert-Rucki, are made of glass slab and constitute a major artistic ensemble.

The building also houses works commissioned for its reconstruction, such as a cross road, confessionals, statues (saint Joseph, the Virgin), chandeliers and secondary altars. These elements, created in the 1950s, reflect the reconstruction and artistic renaissance efforts of the region after the war.

Located at 20 rue de l'Eglise, the St. Lawrence Church remains a symbol of resilience for the Bravery community. Its architecture and stained glass windows, unique in the Vosges, attract lovers of religious heritage and modern sacred art.

The reconstruction of the church is part of the broader context of the Second Reconstruction in the eastern Vosges, studied by historian Jean-Yves Henry. This process aimed to restore an identity to the devastated villages, combining local tradition and artistic innovations, as evidenced by the collaborations between artisans and artists for this monument.

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