Ste-Marguerite (Epfig)

Romanesque chapel Sainte-Marguerite in Epfig (Bas-Rhin)

The Sainte-Marguerite Chapel is a Romanesque church building in Alsace . It is located in the commune of Epfig in the Bas-Rhin department on the Romanesque Road and, due to its original architectural appearance, together with the octagonal central building of Ottmarsheim and the square complex of Avolsheim, is one of the most remarkable Romanesque churches of the 11th century in Alsace.

history

Sainte-Marguerite porch in Epfig

The construction of the chapel can be dated to the first quarter of the 11th century. During this time, the oldest part was built on an unusual cross-shaped floor plan. The columned galleries on the south and west sides were added in the 12th century. The bases of the pillars are - turned upside down - identical to the cube capitals. Since remains of masonry were found in the ground south of the chapel, the two columned galleries could have been part of a former cloister.

The Margaretenkapelle is the result of two Romanesque construction periods. Its four building arms, which are raised by a tower, date from the 11th century. They are grouped around the crossing and in this way form a Latin cross. The west wing forms a nave in its extension. The transept arms, crossing and choir are dimensionally identical. Only in the 12th century was the vestibule added. Around 1516 a Gothic chapel was added to the south side of the choir. On the north side of the ship, the old ossuary was rebuilt on its old foundations in the 19th century . It is not known where the bones kept there come from; they probably come from the graves of Epfig and Kollwiler, the disappeared village east of Epfig, and from farmers who died in the Peasants' War in 1525.

Frescoes are from the 14th century

In the north-east of the building there was a 19th century sacristy, which is now destroyed. Only traces of her entrance door are left today. The crossing tower with its rectangular openings and the twin windows above it resembles the tower of Surbourg.

particularities

This church from the first quarter of the 11th century has a barrel vault that makes it unique in Alsace. It housed the statues of Our Lady of Sorrows and of Sainte Marguerite. Both statues were stolen in December 1973.

Furnishing

The walls of the chapel are made of sandstone and plastered. The frescoes date from the 14th century and depict Christ in Majesty, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists and crosses. These pictures were restored between 1990 and 1997.

literature

• Le Patrimoine des Communes du Bas-Rhin . Flohic Editions, Volume 1, Charenton-le-Pont 1999, ISBN 2-84234-055-8 , pp. 60-61.
• Susanne Tschirner: Dumont directly: Alsace. Dumont Reiseverlag , Ostfildern 2013, ISBN 978-3-7701-9545-9 , p. 61.

Web links

Commons : Ste-Marguerite (Epfig)  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Floor plan of the Margaret Chapel
• La route Romane d'Alsace (French)
• Private homepage
• Blog Lieux Sacres (French)

Coordinates: 48 ° 21 '15.7 "  N , 7 ° 28' 40.1"  E