Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur in Hunawihr, classified as a historical monument since 1972, is an atypical religious building because of its mixed character, that is, shared between Catholic and Protestant cults. Located in the Alsatian village of Hunawihr (High Rhine), it is part of a fortified cemetery, a rare element showing local defensive needs at the end of the Middle Ages. Its bell tower, the oldest part of which dates back to the second half of the 15th century, could have served as a side chapel before being integrated into the current building. The walls of the enclosure, flanked by six circular towers adapted to the shooting of snakes, as well as a ditch mentioned in 1472, underline his vocation both spiritual and military.

The structure of the church reveals a staggered construction: the nave and the choir, vaulted with Gothic veins, date from 1524-1525, as evidenced by the inscriptions engraved on a console and a vantail. A vaulted crypt, accessible from the sacristy, and very brazed murderers in the west wall betray persistent defensive concerns. The fortified cemetery, probably erected between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, includes remains of a possible 11th century seigneurial house, suggesting an ancient occupation of the site. The ensemble, a communal property, illustrates the adaptation of Alsatian places of worship to regional conflicts, while maintaining remarkable medieval architectural traces.

The building is distinguished by its heteroclite architectural details: an asymmetric sprocket wall to the west, a broken arched door, and cross moulded windows. The bell tower, adorned with harped corner chains and tasker marks, houses a clock dial renovated in 2000. Two embossed shields, now virgin, once decorated its western face, while a painted date (1493) at the top of its vault evokes its initial construction. Subsequent restorations, such as that of 1674 (mentioned by initials M.L.), or the 1878 works on the tower, are evidence of continuous maintenance. The Protestant cemetery, later added outside the enclosure, reflects the religious evolution of Alsace after the Reformation.

External links