The Religious Patchwork

The Val d’Argent, nestled between Lorraine and Alsace, holds an exceptional religious heritage with its 26 churches and chapels. This area experienced great religious diversity in the 16th and 17th centuries, marked by varied influences. While the Lorraine part remains predominantly Catholic and French-speaking, the Alsace part becomes a true religious crossroads where Lutherans, French and German Reformed, Anabaptists, and Catholics coexist with relative tolerance. It was in this context that the Amish movement was born in 1693 in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, led by Jacob Amann, who broke away from the local Anabaptists.

Despite the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which banned Calvinist worship, some Protestant churches have survived through the centuries. The Reformed Temple of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is a remarkable example: it is one of the few 17th-century Reformed architectural buildings still preserved in France. Another unique feature is the church of Saint-Pierre-sur-l’Hâte, illustrating the tradition of simultaneous churches in Alsace, shared between Catholics and Protestants.

To explore this historical and architectural richness, visitors have two options: follow the circuit of churches and chapels, available as a booklet at the tourist office, or choose a guided tour with a lecturer, by reservation.