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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Guillaume, built between 1298 and 1307 by the knight Henri de Müllenheim for the Guillemite monks, is the only vestige of a convent built in an extramural swampy area. Consecrated in 1301, this un arched brick church, with a single nave and polygonal choir, reflects the ideal simplicity of order. Its proximity to the port made it the parish of the Bateliers Corporation as early as 1331. The building, covered with a sloped roof and illuminated with high windows, initially served as a meeting room for the brothers.

In the 15th century, the convent declined before being touched by the Reformation. As early as 1524, the boatmen demanded an evangelical preacher, but the first Protestant cult was celebrated only in 1534, after a strong resistance from the monks. The convent closed in 1553 and became a boarding school for the Protestant gymnasium, a precursor of the university, where Martin Bucer and Jean Calvin taught. Saint-Guillaume then joined the seven Lutheran parishes of Strasbourg. In 1667, an asymmetric bell tower was added, extending a trapezoidal porch due to ground instability.

The interior mixes Gothic and Baroque elements, such as the 1485 jube (replaced in 1656) or the 1767 stucco altar. The stained glass windows, dating from the 14th to the 17th century, illustrate religious scenes and the hagiography of St. The organ of André Silbermann (1728), still in place, and the choir of Saint-Guillaume (founded in 1885) contributed to his musical fame. Classified as a historic monument in 1985, the church is now committed to inclusiveness, with St.Guillaume's Antenna welcoming LGBT+ Christian people since 2016.

The porch, restored in 1488, preserves carved dais and consoles, mixing religious themes (holy Marguerite) and secular (a mermaid). The nave houses medieval funerary slabs, including the tomb of the von Werd brothers (14th century), while 28 armored plaques (1659–1764) commemorate the parish administrators. The sacristy reveals a engraving of the façade before 1667 and an inscription in German reminiscent of the 1502 convent buildings.

Symbol of the boatmen's brotherhood, the bell tower carries a cross anchor and a cock, as well as a bronze bell of 1755 classified. The church, owned by a Protestant association, remains an active place of worship and cultural space, hosting classical concerts since the 19th century. Her contemporary social commitment, such as the blessing of same-sex couples (authorized by UEPAL in 2019), perpetuates her central role in Strasbourg life.

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