Church Saint-Hippolyte

The first church, built in around 800 by Abbot Fulrade, was burnt and rebuilt in the 14th century, before being enlarged in 1821, with the demolition of the adjacent houses.
The 14th century vaulted chancel has kept its original features: bays with two lancet windows, a grand triumphal Gothic arch and an apse with five sides.
The chancel consists of an 18th century master altar, in marble, stucco and gilded wood and a celebration altar, a reliquary shrine in carved gilded wood from 1766, that offers glimpses of the relics of saint Hippolyte.
The paintings show saint Fulrade and the ascension of saint Hippolyte. The stained-glass windows in the chancel, which were completely destroyed and then restored in 1947, present the story of saint Hippolyte :
- Hippolyte, a soldier and guardian of saint Laurent, baptised in the presence of the martyr saint Concorde,
- Hippolyte, condemned to be dragged to death by a horse for having converted to Christianity.
The oak stalls (seats reserved for members of the clergy) date from the 18th century.
The nave: the columns date from three different periods of works: pillars of four small columns (14th century), cylindrical columns (17th century), octagonal columns (19th century). The panelled ceiling shows Christ blessing seated on his church, surrounded by the Latin inscription meaning “I am the path, the truth and life” and representations of the four Fathers of the Western Church: Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippone, Jerome of Stridon, and Gregory I. Above the columns, frescoes represent the Adoration of the Three Kings and the Last Supper.
There are also two side altars in the nave in the 18th century baroque style.
The organ, designed in 1736 – 1738 by Jean-André Silbermann, was bought from the Abbey of Marbach and installed in 1790 in the church of Saint-Hippolyte. It is one of the rare Silbermann organs preserved in Alsace; the beauty of the oak case and the richness of the carvings make it one of the famous organ maker’s masterpieces.