Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Matthieu, originally built as the Franciscan church in 1292, became the property of the town of Colmar in 1543. She was transformed into a hospital and then assigned to Protestant worship in 1575 after the Lutheran Reformation. His history was marked by religious conflicts, including the ban on Lutheran worship between 1627 and 1632, which had been lifted after the intervention of Swedish General Gustaf Horn.

In 1715, the choir was separated from the nave by a wall by order of the king of France, a division which would not be abolished until 1987. The monument, classified in 1948, houses a jube adorned with a wooden Christ of the 15th-XVIth centuries and organs of Silbermann (1731), classified in their turn in 1986 and 1988. Its acoustic qualities make it an iconic venue for music festivals.

The 43-metre-long nave and 30-metre-long choir illustrate Gothic architecture adapted to Protestant worship. Oil paintings on balustrades and stands, as well as stained glass windows (partly destroyed), testify to its rich artistic heritage. A major restoration between 1991 and 1997 preserved this jewel of the Great East.

Today, Saint Matthieu Church remains a symbol of religious and cultural coexistence in Colmar, while being a venue for international concerts thanks to its remarkable acoustics. Its history reflects the political and religious upheavals of Alsace, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

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