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Origin and history

The church of the Emm, located in Sondernach in the Vosges, is both a parish place of worship (Saint-Blaise), a secular Marian shrine under the names of Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs and Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, and a memorial dedicated to soldiers who died during the First World War in Alsace and in the Vosges. Its name comes from the hill on which it is built, linked to the medieval legend of Emma and Roland of Roncevaux. The facade bears the inscription: "To our valiant soldiers, grateful Alsace", highlighting its commemorative vocation.

The present church, built between 1922 and 1931, replaces a 15th century chapel destroyed during the Battle of Metzeral (June 1915), one of the most deadly clashes in the Vosges. The project was led by the parish priest Martin Béhé, who arrived in a valley still marked by the stigmas of the war. A committee of Alsatian Remembrance, chaired by Bishop Ruch (Bishop of Strasbourg) and General of Pouydraguin, organized collections in France and abroad (especially in Switzerland) to finance the building. The consecration ceremonies in 1931 and 1932 brought together civil, military and religious personalities.

Church architecture combines religious symbols and memorials. Outside, it is distinguished by its pink sandstone of the Vosges (same stone as the Strasbourg cathedral) and a massive bell tower inspired by the chapel of Fourvière. Inside, the white marble high altar of Carrara dominates a nave where 1,800 plates of Siena yellow marble bear the names of the fallen soldiers. A 16th century Pietà, stolen in 1764 and found in 1944, adorns the chapel of the pilgrimage. The stained glass windows, signed by Ott Frères, include a major work: "The Remembrance", representing a dying soldier in the arms of a chaplain.

Local legend links the church to Charlemagne and her niece Emma, engaged to knight Roland. According to tradition, Emma had a hermitage erected on the hill after Roland died in Roncevaux (778). The legend tells that their souls find themselves on the site every night, perpetuating their tragic love. This story, mixed with history, reinforces the sacred and memorial character of the place.

Since 2005, the church has had a new organ, the work of the factor Hubert Brayé, replacing a provisional instrument installed in 1950. This addition is part of a dynamic of cultural enhancement, with concerts and events. In 2016, the name of Commander Charles Barberot was engraved, more than 70 years after the last inscriptions, at a ceremony in 2017.

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