Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint John chapel of Mulhouse, classified as a historical monument in 1893, came into being in the 13th century when the knights of the order of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem settled in the city in 1249. They founded a commandery and built a first chapel in 1269, marked by a semicircular apse. This building, dedicated to a pivotal period for Mulhouse — then in full emancipation from the bishop of Strasbourg — becomes a symbol of the influence of order in the city. The chapel was enlarged in the middle of the 14th century, receiving a flat bedside, and was the subject of a new dedication in 1351.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, under the mandate of Commander Marc Oeler (1508–1521), the lateral chapel was added, decorated with its coat of arms, and murals depicting the life of Saint John the Baptist were made in the nave. These frescoes, dated from the 16th century, as well as a baptismal novel, testify to its rich artistic heritage. After the Revolution, the pens of the commandery were sold to a private individual in 1798, transformed into a brewery, and then bought by the city in 1891. The restored chapel has been home to the lapidary museum of Mulhouse since 1898.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its ceiling nave, its carved choir in a broken cradle and its arched lateral chapel. Ranked among the first Alsatian historical monuments, it is today an active cultural place, regularly hosting concerts thanks to its remarkable acoustics. Its history reflects the political and religious transformations of Mulhouse, from its status as an imperial city to its integration into France.

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