Saint Denis Chapel

Perched in the heart of the Alsace vineyard of the Golden Crown, in Wolxheim, about twenty kilometers west of Strasbourg, this medieval chapel stands amidst a cemetery, surrounded by vineyards. Dating from the 15th century but mentioned as early as 1342, it consists of a nave and a hexagonal choir. Inside, two paintings by Carola Sorg, a religious painter from Mutzig, adorn the walls: the 14 Holy Helpers and Purgatory, along with a two-headed statue of Saint Denis and a tombstone dedicated to a miller’s wife. Restored in 2000 by volunteers, the chapel bears witness to a rich historical and artistic past.

According to legend, a pagan sanctuary dedicated to Dionysus-Bacchus, god of wine, once occupied this site. After its destruction by the winegrowers, a three-headed hydra terrorized the village until Saint Denis, invoked by a young girl, slew the monster. The inhabitants then erected a chapel in his honor. Another tradition speaks of a Carolingian chapel, built in the 8th century on the ruins of a pagan temple, Christianized under the name of Saint Denis. Pilgrims came here to seek his protection against fevers and skin diseases.