Sélestat - Sainte-Foy

The "Église Sainte-Foy de Sélestat" was built in only 10 years between 1170 and 1180, succeeding an earlier ("Holy Sepulcre")church from around 1085 built by Hildegard von Egisheim. Of this church only the rectangular crypt (and some cavings) remained. Hildegard´s grandson Frederick I Barbarossa funded the construction of the new church, that was the center of a benedictine monastry, depending from the abbey St. Foy in Conques.

A man fighting a giant lion, carved from reddish sandstone. To get the very most space for the carvings, the carver placed the two figures diagonally, so creating a very vivid scene. Actually this theme ("man fighting lion") can be found twice outside the church.

Thanks to Paula G.M. I now know, that this carving shows Samson, opening the lion´s mouth.