Saint Martin Church

Saint Martin Church, a gem of the medieval village of Dachstein on the Alsace Wine Route, about twenty kilometers from Strasbourg, embodies a rich architectural heritage. Moved to its current location around 1356, it replaced an earlier church mentioned in 1240, which was located within the now-lost castle walls. Several renovations have been made, with the only remaining element from that era being the Gothic choir, enlarged in the early 16th century, as evidenced by the lintel of the main door dated 1521, adorned with the coat of arms of Guillaume II de Honstein, Bishop of Strasbourg from 1506 to 1541.

The current building, originally Gothic, features an elongated 18th-century nave decorated with a depiction of the Ascension of Christ, and a 14th-century Gothic choir. The imposing and richly decorated Baroque main altar highlights statues of saints including Saint Martin, the parish patron, flanked by Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist. Other notable elements include two baptismal fonts from 1612, two crucifixes, two side altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Einbeth, as well as a pulpit installed around the mid-18th century.

The stained glass windows, mainly from the 1950s, illustrate parables from the Old and New Testaments, while two of them, dated 1948, depict Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony. Above the central door, two paintings from the 1850s, painted by the Sorg family from Mutzig, represent Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Louis Gonzaga. The pews, made in 1873 by local carpenter Joseph Kaltenbronn, complete the ensemble.

The church facade, in Baroque style, features two bays framing a bulbous steeple, likely originating from an old defensive structure. The belfry, added in 1732 and restored in 1982, houses the bells and is topped by a wrought iron cross dating from 1878. Also worth seeing is a Pietà visible on the south facade.

The organ, classified as a historic monument and built in 1829 by organ builders Michel Stiehr and Xavery Mockers, was restored in 2006 by Quentin Blumenroeder. Guided tours are available by reservation through the Tourist Office for groups wishing to discover Dachstein.