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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Sainte-Aurélie church in Strasbourg, located on Rue Martin-Bucer in the Gare district, is one of the oldest shrines in the city. From medieval origin, it was first mentioned in 801 as Saint-Maurice, before being associated with Saint Aurélie in 1324. His history was marked by his adoption of the Protestant Reformation in 1523, becoming the fourth Lutheran parish in Strasbourg. Martin Bucer, a major figure in the Reformation, began his preaching career there in 1524.

The present building, rebuilt in the 18th century by the masters of work Michel Hatzung and Georges Frédéric Hüttner, preserves Romanesque (clocher of the 12th century) and Gothic (belfry of the 14th century). Its baroque interior, characterized by an altar and a chair in white and gold (17th century), as well as an exceptional organ by André Silbermann (1718), make it a heritage jewel. Classified as a historical monument in 1988, the church benefited from major restorations between 2002 and 2015, preserving its organ and decors.

The surrounding area, formerly a popular suburbs of marketers and gardeners (Faubourg des Charrons), now houses a historic primary school (1843-1846) sharing the courtyard of the church. During the Revolution, the building served as a forage store, then a military hospital in 1806 for the wounded of the Napoleonic wars. The impact of the Franco-German war of 1870 is still visible on the bell tower.

The exterior architecture, sober and baroque, contrasts with the interior richness: 23 painted canvases by Pierre-Joseph Noël (1767) adorn the stands, illustrating biblical scenes. The mobile altar, the carved pulpit (symbols of the Evangelists and Pelican) and the Silbermann organ – restored in the same way in 2015 – bear witness to a unique artistic and religious heritage. The parish registers, which have been kept since 1550, offer valuable insight into the Protestant life of Strasbourg.

The bell tower, the oldest part (12th century), houses a bell of 1410, the oldest in Strasbourg, and a clock of Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué (1845), the last mechanism of this kind still functional in the city. Threatened by destruction during the Terror (1794), he was spared, as was the arrow of the cathedral. Today, the church, accessible by appointment, participates in Heritage Days and hosts cultural events.

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