L'église protestante Saint-Guillaume

With its asymmetrical tower, the pretty little Saint William's Church, located in the Krutenau district, is quite striking. This remarkable site is well worth a visit. Although Strasbourg boasts lots of must-see gems, if you venture off the beaten path, you’ll find picturesque places that will charm you with their rich historical heritage and lovely settings. One such place is Saint William’s Church, whose lopsided bell tower sets it apart in Strasbourg’s cityscape. Built in 1307, originally for the friars of the mendicant order known as the Hermits of Saint William, the church embodies the order’s ideal of austerity through the simplicity of its architecture. A few years later, the city’s shipbuilders adopted the church as their parish church, as demonstrated by the anchor that can still be seen at the top of its spire. Right from the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, the church became protestant, and remains so to this day. The church has changed little since it was first built, other than a noteworthy modification made in the 17th century, with the addition of a bell tower. But the old porch was aligned with the street and had a trapezoidal shape, which posed a challenge for the master carpenter. His highly original solution was to build an asymmetrical bell tower! The church’s intimate interior boasts marvels such as a rare rood screen. You can also admire a beautiful organ case by André Silbermann, which is unique because it is France’s only organ mounted on train tracks! The church features splendid stained-glass windows, the oldest of which, located in the gallery over the entrance, dates back to the 14th century. Another unique feature is the double tomb effigy with two figures laid out one over the other in the chapel at the back of the church. The effigies, which are quite exceptional because there are two of them, were sculpted in 1344 by Woelflin de Rouffach. In addition to being a fascinating place to visit for its heritage, the church also often serves as an elegant venue for prestigious and highly original concerts. For information about upcoming performances: passions-croisees.com.