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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Dagobert church of Longwy-Haut was built between 1683 and 1684 during the reign of Louis XIV, on the site of a 10th century building. Funded by the king, it was occupied in 1684-1685 and consecrated in 1690. His tower, threatened on several occasions (repairs in 1734 and 1757), was consolidated by foothills to support the choir. The lunar dial, installed in 1718 above the gate, bears witness to early developments.

During the Revolution, the church was converted into a military store in 1792: its porch was demolished in 1793 to facilitate access to the vehicles, and its interior, devastated, was restored from 1812. It suffered heavy damage during the sieges of 1815 (3,000 projectiles) and 1871 (partial collapse of the tower), requiring reconstructions in 1819-1822 and 1871-1872. The classical facade, marked by curved frontons, was repaired in 1838.

A major transformation took place in 1866-1867 under the direction of architect Claude Jacquemein: the single ceiling nave became a vaulted nave in a cradle, the semicircular choir was replaced by a polygonal choir with a walk-through, and the windows were modified. The building, consecrated in 1867, was again bombed in 1914 and rebuilt between 1920 and 1926 under the supervision of the architects of the Historical Monuments. Ranked in 1921, it houses Art Deco stained glass windows, a Gothic organ (1926), and an 18th century polychrome Virgin.

The church, symbol of local resilience, also hosted recent events, such as the funeral of Vincent Lambert in 2019. Its history reflects the repeated conflicts that marked Longwy, a strategically contested border town.

Architectural materials and styles combine classical influences (façade), Gothic influences (dogive vaults), and modern influences (art deco windows). Successive reparations, often financed by diocesan or state funds, illustrate its heritage and community importance.

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