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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Rémy de Fenetrange Church is a former Gothic collegiate church erected in the 15th century in the Moselle department, in the Grand Est region. It is distinguished by its three-span nave, its two-span choir and a five-sided apse, characteristic of medieval religious architecture. The stained glass windows, executed by Thibaud de Lixheim at the end of the 15th century, as well as the furniture of the 18th century, testify to his artistic evolution throughout the centuries.

The construction of the college began in 1475 under the direction of architect Hans Hammer, at the initiative of John VII of Fénétrange and his wife, Béatrice d'Ogéviller. The building, marked by conflicts, suffered major damage during a fire in 1610 and during the Thirty Years' War in 1636, when the Swedes severely damaged it. Despite these trials, it retained remarkable elements such as a funeral monument dating from 1385 and an organ acquired in 1792, restored in the nineteenth century.

Ranked a historic monument in 1930, the church benefited from major renovations between 2019 and 2023. Its 15th century stained glass windows, representing the crucifixion and the four Doctors of the Church, have been classified since 1977, just like its organ, whose buffet was made by Caspar Grausz. Today, she hosts concerts as part of the Fénétrange Festival, perpetuating her cultural and spiritual role in the heart of the community.

Modern stained glass windows, added after World War II, partially replace those destroyed during the conflict. The organ, originally from Vergaville Abbey, was restored in 1841 by Georges Wegmann, illustrating the continuing efforts to preserve this heritage. The college remains a symbol of the resilience and religious history of Lorraine, while enrolling in the contemporary cultural life of Fénétrange.

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