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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The St Paul's church in Strasbourg, built between 1892 and 1897 by architect Louis Müller, is part of the urban development of Neustadt under German annexation. Destined to the Protestant garrison of the Second Reich, it symbolizes the imperial axis linking the square of the Republic with that of the University. Its 16 doors, corresponding to military ranks, reflect its original vocation. After 1918, it became the seat of the second reformed parish in Strasbourg.

The neo-Gothic building, inspired by the Church of St Elizabeth in Marburg, is distinguished by its Greek cross plan and its two 76-metre arrows. The shortened nave and stands, typical of Protestant churches, allow for up to 3,000 faithful. The choir, decorated with angelic paintings and the Tetramorphic, also houses busts of reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Melanchthon). One lodge was reserved for the imperial couple, the other for the representative of the Empire.

The original stained glass windows, destroyed in 1944 except for those of the southern crusillon (Armories of the German Empire), were replaced by works by Brother Eric de Saussure in the 1950s-1960s. The monumental organ, built by Walcker in 1897 and modified several times, was restored between 1993 and 1998 to its 1934 state. Ranked a historic monument in 1998, the building combines Alsatian architectural heritage and Protestant memory.

The rear chapel, destroyed in 1944, was rebuilt in a contemporary style. Between 2009 and 2014, the arrows and the façade were completely restored, followed by the redevelopment of the square in 2014. Today, the Church of St Paul remains an active place of worship and a symbol of the German and Protestant heritage of Strasbourg.

Its strategic location, at the tip of St. Helena Island, offers a visual perspective with Notre Dame Cathedral from Sébastien Brant Square. This architectural dialogue between the old town and the Neustadt illustrates the tensions and cultural exchanges of Alsace under German domination.

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