Church of St John the Baptist
The Church of Saint-Jean, dedicated to St John the Baptist, is a Catholic church on Quai Saint-Jean in the Gare district. A former convent church, partly destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt in the 1960s, it still bears traces of its past. A quiet stop between the station and the Petite France.
From friary to Quai Saint-Jean
The church was once a convent church and is now a Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Strasbourg. Older parts, including the west gable, have been listed as historic monuments since 1946. On the east facade you can still make out remains of frescoes. During the Second World War, between 1940 and 1942, the church served as a meeting point for a network of guides helping escaped prisoners of war.
Rebuilt after the bombs of 1944
In August 1944 a bombing raid destroyed part of the church. A temporary church was consecrated in 1947, and rebuilding took place from 1962 to 1964; the building returned to use in 1965. The single-nave interior with a flat ceiling is lit by two-light windows filled with stained glass signed Werlé. The organ is by Curt Schwenkedel. The Monastic Fraternity of Jerusalem also celebrates its liturgy here.
Between the station and the Petite France
Quai Saint-Jean runs along the water between the station district and the historic centre. The church therefore fits easily into a walk towards the Petite France and the Grande Île. Step in quietly: it is first and foremost a place of prayer, and opening depends on services.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Church of St John the Baptist?
On Quai Saint-Jean in the Gare district, a few minutes' walk from the Petite France.
Why does it look so recent inside?
It was partly destroyed in a bombing raid in August 1944, then rebuilt from 1962 to 1964. Older features such as the west gable survive.
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