Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of St. Vincent and Anastase in Schwenheim, located in the Lower Rhine (Great East), dates back to the 12th century. Its bell tower, the oldest element, features a four-storey tower of cut stone, with leesenes and a arch frieze in the middle of the first two floors. The semi-detached bays of the fourth level, decorated with columns with various bases (cubic, square or circular), bear witness to an advanced Romanesque architecture. Originally, the ground floor was vaulted on cubic capitals, while remains of formet arches remain inside.

The current nave, transept and choir, in crepy masonry, are mostly dated to the 19th century. In 1854-1855, the church was enlarged to the west to gain space, with the addition of a transept and a choir with cut strips, while the medieval choir tower was preserved as a porch. The trilobed windows, inscribed in arches in the middle of the hanger, remind those of the nave of Singrist (early 18th century). The building, inscribed in historical monuments since 1996, thus blends Romanesque heritage and later modifications, reflecting its evolution over the centuries.

The church is mentioned from the tenth century under the name of Saint Alban, before being dedicated to Saints Vincent and Anastasis from the 15th century (approximate date). The entrance door to the enclosure, dated 1770, and the 19th century transformations illustrate the successive adaptations of the building. The bell tower, classified as a historical monument in 1996, remains the oldest and best preserved part, symbolizing the historical continuity of the site.

Architecturally, the contrast between Romane-cut stone and subsequent additions in Crepy masonry highlights the distinct phases of construction. Cubic capitals, tores and collettes of the twin berries are remarkable elements of the tower. Inside, the old vaulted choir, now capped, preserves the dogive and formet arches, while the triumphal arch in the middle of the nave marks the transition between the medieval and modern parts.

The site, owned by the municipality of Schwenheim, is part of an Alsatian rural landscape marked by religious buildings with stratified histories. The approximate location (152 Rue Principale) and the map accuracy considered "passible" (note 5/10) reflect the current documentary limitations. The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its regional heritage importance, notably in the list of historical monuments of the Lower Rhine.

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