Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Marguerite Chapel of Valff is a Catholic building located in the Alsatian village of Valff, in the department of Bas-Rhin (Great East Region). Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, it illustrates medieval and reborn architectural evolution, with a Gothic choir dated from the 15th century and a nave rebuilt in 1566 and 1568, as evidenced by the vintages engraved on its walls. This monument, owned by the commune, has been included in the inventory of Historical Monuments since 1932, specifically for its apse.

The site also houses a Notre-Dame chapel, located in the enclosures and formerly serving as a dossuary. Although its construction was attributed to the 13th century, it underwent extensive restorations that made its original condition difficult to discern. The chapel of Sainte-Marguerite, on the other hand, preserves remarkable elements such as an angel sculpture bearing shields with wooded coats of arms, as well as marks of taskmen, traces of the craftsmen who worked on its construction. These details reflect the artistic and symbolic practices of the time.

The building is part of a historical context marked by the religious and social transformations of Alsace. The period of the 15th and 16th centuries, in particular, corresponds to a period of transition between the late Gothic and the early influences of the Renaissance. The chapel, with its hybrid architecture, bears witness to this stylistic evolution. Its designation as historic monuments in 1932 underscores its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in local memory.

External links