Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Collège Saint-Étienne de Hombourg-Haut was founded in 1254 by Jacques de Lorraine as a college of thirteen canons. Its construction, begun in the late 13th century, extends until the 15th century, on the presumed site of an ancient parish church. A cloister, now disappeared, was assistant to him, destroyed during the fire of 1632 which also damaged his roof. The building, built in Vosges sandstone and covered with slate, adopts a Latin cross plan, with a nave, a transept, a choir and two side chapels: the chapel Saint-Nicolas and the chapel of Bayer.

Ranked a historic monument since February 16, 1930, the college underwent extensive restoration work completed in 2017. These involved the facades (2,035 m2 cleaned), the bell tower (refection of the belfry and the flying engines of the bells), and the roof (1,524 m2 revised). His stained glass windows, mostly created by Jean-Henri Couturat in 1955 after World War II, adorn the choir with representations of the apostles, evangelists, and religious symbols such as the Virgin Mary and the Eucharist.

College has always played a central role in local cultural and religious life. From the 19th century, it houses a remarkable organ, built in 1847 by Pierre Rivinach and restored in 1992, considered one of the most beautiful in eastern France. Since 1947, it has hosted symphonic concerts (Orchestre de Metz, Orchestre national de Lorraine) and, since 1990, the Rencontres musicales du Choeur d'hommes de Hombourg-Haut, as well as events related to the International Festival Théodore Gouvy.

The history of the college is also marked by institutional transformations. The original chapter, abolished in 1743, was replaced by Franciscan-Recollets of German origin, under the permission of Stanislas, king of Poland. This building, owned by the municipality, remains an active place of worship and a symbol of the Lorraine heritage, mixing medieval architecture, sacred art and musical tradition.

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