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Origin and history

The Protestant church of Obermodern-Zutzendorf, located in the Lower Rhine, has its origins between the 13th and 15th centuries. The four lower levels of the old tower, dated from this period, still remain today. Among the remarkable elements are a Gothic wall tabernacle bearing the date of 1473, as well as remains of mural paintings, probably from the 15th or early 16th century. These artistic and architectural traces bear witness to its medieval importance, even before its passage to Protestant worship.

The first written mention of the church dates back to 1371, and his supposed patron saint is Saint John the Baptist or Saint Anthony. After the Reformation in 1545, the building became a place of Protestant worship, a vocation it still retained. The original medieval church was destroyed before 1731, when a new nave, larger, was built thanks to the funding of the Bouxwiller hospital. This nave, considered too small in the 19th century, was in turn replaced by the present church, inaugurated in 1843.

The tower, the oldest part of the monument, was partially rebuilt and raised several times, notably in 1729, then in 1884-1885 with the addition of an arrow. The Gothic levels of this tower, including the Eucharistic cabinet of 1473 and the murals, were inscribed in historical monuments in 1995. The present, sober-style building reflects successive adaptations related to liturgical and community needs, while preserving significant medieval elements.

The site also retains traces of its defensive role, such as a lockable door from inside the tower, attesting to its use as a safe haven in case of danger. Around the church, a wall of enclosure was erected in 1861, delimiting the old cemetery, disused in 1829. Inside, commemorative plaques recall significant events, such as the storm of 1897 or the list of Lutheran pastors since 1568.

Today's architecture thus combines Gothic elements (broken arches, vaults on cross-walls) with more recent additions, such as the 1843 stone porch or the 19th century arrow. The 1473 tabernacle, decorated with a wooded decoration and vintage, remains one of the most valuable testimonies of its medieval past. Finally, the inscription on the portal tympanum ("CHRISTUS DER WEG, DIE WAHRHEIT UND DAS LEBEN / 1843") illustrates its anchoring in the Protestant faith.

Today, the Protestant church of Obermodern-Zutzendorf, owned by the municipality, continues to play a central role in local life. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments in 1995 underlines its heritage value, both as a religious building and as a witness to the architectural and cultural transformations of Alsace since the Middle Ages.

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