Catholic Church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune
With its great pink sandstone dome, the Catholic church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune anchors a crossroads in the Neustadt, right next to the law courts. Built between 1889 and 1893 in a blend of neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine styles, it impresses most with the sheer volume of its dome seen from inside. An easy stop on a stroll between Place de la République and the Contades district.
A church born with the Neustadt
The church went up between 1889 and 1893, when the German city was expanding northwards along broad new avenues. Its plans are by Skjold Neckelmann and August Hartel, the same pair who designed the nearby law courts, so the two buildings were conceived as one ensemble. At the time it was known as "Neue Jung Sankt-Peter", the new Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune, to set it apart from the older church in the centre.
Pink sandstone facing grey limestone
The contrast is obvious at once: the church is built of pink and red sandstone, while the law courts next door are grey limestone. Its style mixes neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine, with a compact plan gathered around a dome. Beneath the cupola the interior rises 50 metres, with a diameter of up to 18.5 metres. Look up as you step in: it is this verticality, more than the decoration, that gives the place its character.
A crown of light beneath the dome
Hanging from the cupola, a large ring-shaped chandelier catches the eye. It is modelled on the one in the abbey church of Wissembourg, lost during the French Revolution, and echoes the circular shape of the space. The organ is by the builder Yves Kœnig. The church remains an active Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Strasbourg, so step in as you would into any place of worship and keep quiet during services.
Two Saint-Pierre-le-Jeunes, two stories
Strasbourg has two churches called Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune: this Catholic one in the Neustadt, and an older Protestant church on the Grande Île. Check which one you are after before setting off. In front of the entrance, on Place Charles-de-Foucauld, a statue of Charles de Foucauld by Daphné Du Barry was installed in 2006, paid for by a subscription among parishioners. It recalls that this saint was born in Strasbourg.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Catholic church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune?
In the Neustadt, at the corner of Rue Finkmatt and Rue De Castelnau, right beside the law courts and a few minutes' walk from the Grande Île.
What makes it notable?
Its pink sandstone dome, 50 metres high inside, its neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine style, and the large ring chandelier hanging beneath the cupola.
Can you visit it?
Yes, it is a parish church usually open during the day, with shorter hours on Sundays. Avoid walking around during Mass.
What is there to see nearby?
The neighbouring law courts, then the Neustadt avenues down to Place de la République, and the Contades park with the Grand Synagogue of Peace.
Wikimedia Commons — © Ralph Hammann - Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons — Valentin R. from France
