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Origin and history

The church of St. Stephen of Osenbach, located in the Upper Rhine in the Grand East region, is a religious building whose origins date back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Its Romanesque bell tower, typical of the Alsatian architecture of the time, and its sacristy (old choir) are built in stoneware bells, with irregular chains striated by chevrons. This bell tower, pierced by twin-shaped bays and decorated with columns, has similarities with those of Soultzmatt, Hattstatt or Gundolsheim, dating from the first decades of the 12th century. The church was partially rebuilt after a fire in 1298, attributed to the Count of Ferrette.

In 1822, the architect Pétin (uncertain name) undertook a major transformation: the original nave and choir were replaced by a new nave and a cross choir, however retaining the medieval bell tower and the old choir, transformed into a sacristy. The latter, vaulted with ridges and equipped with a triumphal arch in full hanger with carved impostes, illustrates the Alsatian Romanesque style. The work, completed in 1824, incorporated task marks and old stone jobs. A thorough restoration took place between 1973 and 1975, prior to its inscription in the historical monuments in 1976.

The building thus combines medieval elements — such as the bell tower bays or the triumphal arch carved of palmettes — with 19th century additions, such as the present nave or the semicircular bedside. The west gate of the bell tower, with an 18th century pediment (?), and the columns placed inside bear witness to successive architectural developments. The sacristy, installed in the old choir, retains a raised ground partially masking its original triumphal arch. The church, a communal property, remains a notable example of the Alsatian Romanesque heritage, marked by subsequent restorations and adaptations.

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