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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The simultaneous church Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Hohwiller, located in Soultz-sous-Forêts in the Lower Rhine, is a historic monument whose Gothic choir dates back to the 2nd half of the 15th century. The building is remarkable for its murals, some dating from the 12th or 15th century, including a fresco restored in 1926 by Auguste Dubois de Gresswiller. These works, originally performed around 1491, illustrate biblical scenes and testify to the complex religious history of the place.

The building is a simultaneum, that is, a church shared between Catholic and Protestant cults, a rare feature in France. The choir, classified in 1898, and the entire building, registered in 1997, preserve traces of this dual vocation. The nave and bell tower, rebuilt in the 18th century (1780 for the nave), contrast with the original Gothic elements, reflecting the architectural and religious evolutions of the region.

According to the sources, the church could occupy the site of an ancient Roman temple, although this hypothesis is not confirmed by archaeological evidence detailed in the available texts. The murals, protected since 1898, have served as a reference to reconstruct other regional frescoes, such as the church of Niederbetshdorf. The building now belongs to the municipality of Soultz-sous-Forêts and remains open to the public, although the modalities of the visit are not specified.

The shared management of the church between Catholics and Protestants since 1776 illustrates the tensions and religious compromises in Alsace, a region marked by changes in sovereignty and religious reforms. Historical works mention partial reconstruction in 1780, probably linked to structural needs or liturgical adaptations. The watercolours of Auguste Dubois (1926) document the primitive state of the paintings before restoration, offering valuable visual testimony.

The classification of the murals in 1898 underlined their heritage value, while the inscription of the choir in 1997 extended protection to the architectural ensemble. The sacristy, contemporary of the Gothic choir (1491), completes this medieval ensemble. Finally, the location in Hohwiller, hamlet of Soultz-sous-Forêts, and its official address (11 Rue Principale) are attested by the Mérimée and Monumentum bases.

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