Alsace / Haut-Rhin

Saint-Blaise was burnt down by mercenaries in 1376, but got rebuilt in the 15th century. As the times were very rough the cementary then got fortified. Once a ditch run around the enclosing wall, that was then upto 5 metres high . In the mid 19th century the wall got lowered to 2,70 metres for security reasons.

The name "Kaysersberg" translates to "mountain of the emperor". It was Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, who had this this place fortified to secure a (Roman) road leading from the Rhine Valley Lorraine. Just after the emperor "invested" here, the construction of the church began. But it took centuries to complete it. The romanesque portal seen here is dated around 1230, it is one of very few structures out of the early time of "Sainte Croix". This is the capital of the middle pillar on the right side of the portal. It is composed by two mermen (I do not think, that they are maids) and heads. This side is a little more weathered. Compared to the other mermaids still existing in the area (Selestat, Rosheim) the mermaids (better mermen) clearly here lacks elegance.

The name "Kaysersberg" translates to "mountain of the emperor". It was Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, who had this this place fortified to secure a (Roman) road leading from the Rhine Valley Lorraine. Just after the emperor "invested" here, the construction of the church began. But it took centuries to complete it. The romanesque portal seen here is dated around 1230, it is one of very few structures out of the early time of "Sainte Croix". This is the capital of the middle pillar on the right side of the portal. It is composed by two mermen (I do not think, that they are maids) and heads. Between the two heads on the left is fleur-de-lys, what -at first sight- is a surprise, as Frederick II was from the House of Hohenstaufen.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. The companion of the musician seen on the preceding photo, playing either bagpipe or lute, is on top of the next spire. The companion is a monkey! Maybe the monkey is dancing, maybe the monkey plays an instrumet as well. His hands got lost, but there is a rope going up to his neck - and this rope may have been connected to lute or other stringed instrument. Maybe the two musicians perform a duet. From the posture, the monkey is very similar to his "master". Maybe the monkey even imitates him.

A small church has been on that hill in Hunawihr since the 10th century. The church and the graveyard got surrounded by a strong wall later. The church of today was built 15th/16th century as a fortfified structure. In 1537 the parish accepted protestantism, but obviously not the whole population of Hunawihr changed. Since 1687 the church is "co-used" by protestants - and catholics.

The church was built 15th/16th century as a fortfified structure. In 1537 the parish accepted protestantism, but obviously not the whole population of Hunawhir changed. Since 1687 the church is used by protetants - and catholics. That is why nobody can tell, wether the initials carved into the benches, belong to protestants or catholics.

The former abbey-church "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built in the 11th. century. The octogon is similar (but much smaller) to the Palatine Chapel Charlemagne had built in Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) 300 years before.

Riquewihr is probably a very nice village, but it can get pretty crowdy during the summer-season.

The "Château d'Isenbourg" goes back to Merovingian kings, who built a residence here in the 5th century. Dagobert II ("le bon Roi Dagobert") lived here . But nothing is left from that days, today this is a luxury hotel. But it is not the only hotel in Rouffach. The chateau is seen through the window of the very pleasant "Hostellerie a la Ville de Lyon", a nice place to stay a little further down the vinyards.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The oldest part is the transept,dating back to the 11th century. The nave is about 100/200 years younger, while the choir is gothic. The large building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. Many years of renovating and reconstruction during the 19th century have saved a lot. So the old crossing tower got a new helmet, reaching 68m. It was even planned to (finally) finish the gothic twin-towered façade(to the left), but the but the Franco-Prussian War stopped all these plans in 1870.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The transept and large parts of the nave are romanesque, the choir and the facade are gothic. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. Work on the building started within the 11th century and continued until 1508. The twin-towered façade (to the right, only one tower is to be seen), remained unfinished. When restauration took place during the 19th century it was planed to complete the facade. The works actually started at the north tower. The Franco-Prussian War stopped all works in 1870 - and the façade stayed unfinished. So, the north tower (seen here) now is 56 m., while the south tower is only 42 m. high. The crossing tower got a new spire in 1854 and now reaches up to 68 meters.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture between romanesque and gothique. The large building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. Work on the building started within the 11th century and continued until 1508. The twin-towered façade, seen here, remained unfinished. During the restauration during the 19th century it was planed to complete the facade. The works actually started at the north tower using red sandstone. Then the Franco-Prussian War stopped all works in 1870 - and the façade stayed unfinished. So, the north tower now is 56 m., while the south tower is only 42 m. high.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. A lonely dog sitting on the top of a gothic spire. He seems to wait for the rising of the moon. Then he will start to whine and howl "from dusk till dawn"... As this carving is over the sacristy, added to the gothic choir, it may not be that old.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. A musician is comfortably sitting on the top of a gothic spire, playing an instrument. First I saw the instrument as a bagpipe. Bagpipes have been very popular already in pre-medieval times. Here the thin blowpipe got lost over the time. Meanwhile - from the posture and the gesture of the hands - I think this is a kind of lute, having a very big belly. Anyway, the musician did not come alone to entertain the crowds in Rouffach. See his companion on the next photo.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. A mean looking little guy near one of the windows of the gothic choir. He is wearing a cloak with a hood and seems waiting for unwary spectators coming near enough - to spit on them.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. There are some interesting romanesque carvings on the walls of the older parts of "Notre Dame de l'Assomption". This one, placed next to the entrance, seems to be one of the oldest. It has the typical checkered frieze on top. Well, this is not hitchhiker near the motorway. Though damaged and weathered, this is still a serious sentinel, armed with a long spear. He has lifted his arm and shows his open hand, what is a "stop-gesture", that is still used today by the police. It is strange, that somebody in the past took a lot of effort, to climb up the wall and "erase" the left arm and the spear. This may be connected to the French Revolution. During the heyday of the revolution it was probably "politically correct", to disarm the sentinel of the church. The featherlike decoration on his head - is just a cobweb.

Rouffach - Notre Dame de l'Assomption The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. There are some interesting romanesque carvings on the walls of the older parts of "Notre Dame de l'Assomption". Here is a specific feature, as the artist who carved this, only "shows" the top part of the body. The lower part is invisible. It is stuck in the wall. This way the artist creates something like a horizonal bust, often seen later, in gothic style. To straighten the body - and let the person face the spectators, he has to hold on two beams, that stick out of the wall. Good work - and a nice idea of the carver. He used the idea at least twice at this church. See the next photo.

The architecture of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the parish church of Rouffach, about 20kms south of Colmar, is a mixture of romanesque and gothique style. The pretty huge building suffered heavy damage during the French Revolution. There are some interesting romanesque carvings on the walls of the older parts of "Notre Dame de l'Assomption". Here the carver "reused" his idea, using beams protruding out of the wall. This time, there are two (half) lions. The lions are a little clumsy, compared to the man leaning on beams, on the other wall.