Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Ludan Chapel, located in Hipsheim in the Lower Rhine, is a religious building dating back to the 4th quarter of the 15th century, with a major reconstruction in the 1st quarter of the 18th century. The current building, dated 1723 by a Latin chronogram on its western gate, incorporates a 13th century tower and remains of Gothic bays. Originally dedicated to Saint George, it is commonly called Saint Ludan or Scheerkirche (church of the shears, in Alsatian). The nave, equipped with a pinion with volutes, and the sacristy on the floor – including a dwelling for a hermit – reflect this period of Baroque reconstruction.

The chapel has been listed as historical monuments since 13 December 1968, covering both the building and the tomb of St. Ludan (Cadastre B 129). The sources also mention the work of the sculptor Conrad-Sifer of Sinsheim, although his exact role is not detailed. Owned by the municipality of Hipsheim, it is part of an Alsatian religious landscape marked by local pilgrimages, as evidenced by the work of René Xavier Naegert (1992) devoted to his history and devotion.

Architecturally, the chapel thus blends medieval elements (round the 13th century) with Baroque additions (1723), illustrating the stylistic and cultural evolutions of the region. Its alternative name, Scheerkirche, could refer to local artisanal or agricultural practices, although the sources do not specify this origin. The site is listed in the Mérimée and Clochers bases of France, highlighting its heritage importance in the Bas-Rhin.

External links