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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Protestant Church of St.Martin of Westhoffen, located in the Lower Rhine (Great East), is an emblematic building combining two major periods: the fourth quarter of the 13th century for its original Gothic structure, and the second half of the 19th century for its neo-Gothic transformations. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1997, it embodies the Rhine prototype of the church hall, characterized by a three-vessel nave equal height, an integrated transept and a polygonal apse. Its wooden vaults, decorated with carved keys and plant capitals (chêne, fern, nenuphar), as well as its 13th century stained glass windows in the choir, bear witness to its medieval heritage.

The initial construction, attributed between 1280 and 1330, is associated with the architect master Conrad (died around 1310-1312), whose grave would lie under the foundations of the tower. Marks of stonework connect the building to other Alsatian shipyards of the same period, such as the Strasbourg Cathedral. In the 16th century, the church moved to Protestant worship (1545), then was subjected to simultaneum (sharing between Catholics and Protestants) in 1685. In 1866 she became exclusively Protestant after the construction of a new Catholic church in the commune.

The major 19th-century transformations, led by architect Charles Morin (1868-1877), included the addition of a neo-Gothic bell tower, the demolition of the medieval cross tower, and the enlargement of the nave of a span. These works, though modernising, preserve medieval elements such as the columns and vaults of the former first span. A staircase turret leading to a room with mysterious frescoes (oratory ? sacristy ?) and the remains of the original tower recall the historical strata of the building.

The building is also distinguished by its furniture and interior decorations, marked by successive cults. The murals of the upper room, whose function remains uncertain, and the 13th century stained glass windows (among the oldest in Alsace) highlight its rich heritage. Today, the church, owned by the commune, remains a symbol of Alsatian Protestantism, while illustrating the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the contemporary era.

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