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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Arbogast church of Offenheim, located in Stutzheim-Offenheim in the Lower Rhine, is a religious building dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century. Built in a sober Romanesque style, it is distinguished by its yellow ochre brick bell tower, classified as a historical monument in 1898. This bell tower, formerly choir tower, is the only remaining element of the medieval church, marked by stripped architecture and an apparent masonry.

The church was first mentioned in 1391, although its architectural style suggests an earlier construction. Initially simple chapel, Offenheim became a parish in 1398, before being attached successively to Dossenheim (1615), Behlenheim (1629), then to Stutzheim in 1788. In 1789-1790, the building, considered too small, was partially rebuilt: the medieval nave was destroyed and replaced by a larger nave, while the former Romanesque choir was transformed into a sacristy.

The bell tower, restored several times (1899, 1911), has an almost square brick structure, with four austere levels. Its ground floor, once vaulted on edge, housed the medieval choir. The upper levels, pierced with curved bays, now house the bells. The current nave, oriented north-south in contrast to traditional use, dates from 1790. A 14th century statue of Virgin and Child, discovered in 1993, bears witness to the lost artistic heritage of the building.

The church illustrates Alsatian architectural and religious evolution, marked by reconstructions linked to community needs. Its bell tower, an early example of the use of brick in Alsace, and the remains of the medieval nave offer a rare testimony of constructive Romanesque techniques in the region. Recent excavations and studies, such as those published in Kochersbari (2009, 2013), highlight its heritage importance.

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