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Origin and history

The Sainte-Croix Chapel, erected in the 13th century on Mount Sainte-Croix (Kreuzberg) east of Forbach (Moselle), is a Catholic building overlooking the Warndt buttonhole. It is part of the path of Santiago de Compostela between Saar and Metz. Its architecture, of the chapel-halle type, combines a square nave in 13th century sandstone and a Gothic choir open with windows, partially walled. Inside, a 13th century tympanum represents Christ on the cross. Traces of changes in the 14th–15th centuries and deteriorations during the Thirty Years' War mark its history.

The chapel was mentioned in 1338 in a letter from the bishop of Metz Adhémar de Monteil as capella sancta crucis juxta Forbachum. Owned by the destinies of Hombourg-Haut from 1257, it passed into the hands of Barons von der Leyen in 1684, then to Countess Marianne Camasse (wife of Christian IV of Deux-Ponts) before being confiscated in 1793 during the Revolution. The statues, hidden by the premises, escape destruction. Repurchased by Wendel's family in 1824, it became owned by Lorraine coalfields in 1946, then by the city of Forbach in 1969 for a symbolic franc. Restored from 1978, it has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1937.

A local legend attributes its foundation to Alice of Forbach (or Alice of Werd), a 13th century noble. Taking remorse after having caused the death of two duel suitors, she withdrew to Mount Sainte-Croix to build an oratory. His grave, buried at the foot of the altar, was a cephalic niche cut out of the rock, discovered in 1978.It fed a popular veneration, although Alice had never been canonized. The chapel also houses calvaries and cross of paths of various periods.

The building reveals a dark origin: maybe a strong 13th century house or a castle outbuilding. His choir, after the nave, dates from the second half of the 13th century. The sandstones, marked with lifting holes, and the mortar joints bear witness to medieval techniques. After centuries of transformation and abandonment, its recent restoration has preserved this iconic heritage of the East.

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