Église Saint-Martin, Marmoutier

Église Saint-Martin is the parish church of the small commune of Marmoutier, in the Bas-Rhin department of France. The church used to belong to Marmoutier Abbey and to be dedicated to Saint Stephen; it is still known as église (church), or abbatiale (abbey church) Saint-Étienne.

Église Saint-Martin de Marmoutier
Abbatiale de Marmoutier
Lateral view of the formerly abbey church
Map
48°41′26″N 7°22′57″E / 48.69056°N 7.38250°E / 48.69056; 7.38250
LocationMarmoutier
CountryFrance
DenominationCatholic
History
Former name(s)Abteikirche Maursmünster
Abbatiale Saint-Étienne de Marmoutier
StatusParish church
Founded6th century
DedicationSaint Stephen (formerly)
Saint Martin (currently)
Architecture
Heritage designationMonument historique
Designated1840
StyleRomanesque
Gothic
Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking1150
Completed1770
Specifications
Length74 m (243 ft)
Materialspink Vosges sandstone
Administration
ArchdioceseStrasbourg
ParishCommunauté de paroisses «Terres et eaux de Marmoutier»

Built over a period of over 700 years, Marmoutier's church has a length of 74 metres (243 feet),[1][2] and grows younger from West to East: the facade with its porch tower is Romanesque, the nave is Gothic, and the choir was rebuilt in the years 1765–1770 in an early Gothic Revival style.[3] It is classified as a Monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1840,[4] making it a part of the very first list of such heritage buildings, and is a stage on the Romanesque Road of Alsace.[5]

The western facade of Marmoutier's church is famous for its massive but well balanced architecture,[6] while inside, the 1710 pipe organ by Andreas Silbermann (completed in 1746 by his son, Johann Andreas Silbermann, and restored several times since)[7][8] and the 18th-century choir stalls[9] are among the most notable items on display.

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References

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  1. ^ "Floor plan 1". encyclopedie.bseditions.fr. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Floor plan 2". crdp-strasbourg.fr. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Marmoutier" (PDF). La Route Romane d′Alsace. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  4. ^ Base Mérimée: Eglise abbatiale Saint-Etienne, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  5. ^ "MARMOUTIER, église Saint-Martin". La Route Romane d′Alsace. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  6. ^ Kubach, Hans Erich (1986). Romanik. Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. ISBN 3421028583.
  7. ^ "Marmoutier, Abbatiale St. Etienne". aeolus-music.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Marmoutier, St-Etienne". A la découverte de l'Orgue Orgues d'Alsace. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  9. ^ Base Palissy: Ensemble des stalles et des lambris du choeur, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
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