Lautenbach - Collégiale Saint Gangolph

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged.

Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here.

This carving is not integrated in the friezes, but placed on the right corner just outside the narthex. See the position here:

www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5501571819/

Compared to the friezes, showing two ways leading into hell, this carving depicts a very different situation. The opposite! A couple, nicely dressed, belts around their bodies, face the onlooker.
The couple is standing - see the foliage around - in the middle of a Garden, which is the "Garden of Eden". He hands over an apple to her. The fruit is not forbidden any longer, as this is the end of time.

Robert Will (in "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque) cites, that similar scenes are found in some illuminated manuscripts.