Avolsheim
Chapelle Saint-Ulrich
Presentation
This sanctuary dates from the second third of the 11th century. Long described as a baptistery because of its modest size, this chapel with a centred plan is called ‘tetraconch’ because it is shaped like a four-leaf clover. The four arms originally ended in semi-circular apsidioles, which are now truncated. The cylindrical drum enclosing the dome is topped by an octagonal Romanesque bell tower dating from the second half of the 12th century. Inside, the frescoes on the drum and dome are remarkable. On three levels, you can see scenes from the Apocalypse, then the Evangelists and their symbols and, in the dome, God the Father in the guise of Jesus holding his own crucified body. A dove indicates that this is a representation of the Holy Trinity.
Photo gallery
Dompeter
Presentation
The name of this ancient place of worship comes from the Latin domus petri. The current building, in the early Romanesque style, was built on the foundations of a Merovingian sanctuary. It was consecrated by Alsatian Pope Leo IX in 1049. The portal, the lintels of the side doors and the central nave remain from this Romanesque period. The nave has five bays, with large arches resting on powerful masonry pillars. Three strange masks decorate the capital on the right-hand side of the portal. Since 1933, the Dompeter has been entrusted to the care of the Scouts et Guides de France d’Alsace. They are responsible for restoring the building, which is now the memorial to the Scouts de France from Alsace who fell in the Second World War.