Historic Church (Eglise Historique)

" This little church is a bit hidden by trees, and yet, it is a real jewel of medieval architecture. Don’t miss its remarkable frescoes! "

Built on an ancient necropolis, the first church can be dated to the late 11th or 12th century.
The church contains evidence of all the phases of its construction. Although it has some Romanesque elements, the present building is essentially Gothic.

Archaeologically very interesting, especially for its numerous burials, the historical church of Baldenheim has a medieval painted decoration among the best preserved in Alsace.

Restoration work (1992) uncovered or refreshed the "frescoes", which had been covered by several layers of whitewash.
Most of the wall paintings in the nave date from the 14th century. Those in the choir were painted at the end of the 15th century, after the school of Martin Schongauer, a very famous Alsatian engraver.

After the introduction of the Reformation in 1576, the church became Protestant.
In 1749, the Catholics took over the choir and kept it until a new Catholic church was built in Baldenheim in 1938.
This was the period of the simultaneum: a church shared by Protestants and Catholics.