St Thomas' Protestant Church
Between the cathedral and Petite France, St Thomas' Church is nicknamed the 'cathedral of Protestantism' in Alsace. A five-aisled hall church completed in 1521 and Lutheran since 1524, it holds Pigalle's mausoleum of Marshal de Saxe and a Silbermann organ whose sound Mozart praised. A visit that weaves together Gothic architecture, sculpture and music.
A hall church unlike any other in the region
St Thomas' is a hall church: its five aisles rise to the same height, a layout unique in the region that gives the interior a broad, airy feel. A church has stood on the site since the 9th century, and the present building was completed in 1521 in late Gothic style, after a long building process that explains the mix of periods visible in the stone. The church has been a listed historic monument since 1862. Look up at the vaults to take in the unity of this space, unusual in a city dominated by the soaring cathedral.
The mausoleum of Marshal de Saxe
In the choir stands the tomb of Maurice de Saxe, Marshal of France, completed in 1776 in late Baroque style. The sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle spent more than twenty years on it. The composition reads like a stage set: the marshal steps down towards his coffin while allegorical figures and symbolic animals come alive around him. As a Protestant, the marshal could not be laid to rest in a Catholic church, which is why he lies here. Take time to walk all the way round it.
Silbermann, Mozart and Schweitzer
The great organ was built in 1741 by Johann Andreas Silbermann, of the famous dynasty of organ builders based in Strasbourg. Passing through in 1778, Mozart praised its sound. Later, Albert Schweitzer, the Alsatian organist, musicologist and doctor, designed the choir organ installed in the early 20th century. The tradition lives on: the church regularly hosts concerts, a good chance to hear these instruments in the hall's acoustics.
From a Romanesque sarcophagus to the Reformation
Don't miss the sarcophagus of Bishop Adeloch, carved around 1130 in pink sandstone, one of the oldest Romanesque pieces in the church. In 1524 St Thomas' hosted one of the first services in the vernacular and switched to Lutheran worship, the role that earned its nickname. The church stands on Place Saint-Thomas, a few minutes' walk from Petite France and the Ponts Couverts. It is still a place of worship, so visit quietly outside service times.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St Thomas' Church?
On Place Saint-Thomas, in Strasbourg's historic centre, between the cathedral and Petite France. It is one of the monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage area.
Why is it called the cathedral of Protestantism?
Because it was one of the first homes of the Reformation in Strasbourg: a service in the vernacular was held there as early as 1524, the year it became Lutheran, and it remains the city's leading Protestant church.
Can you visit the church and attend a concert?
Yes, the church can be visited during the day outside services, and organ or sacred music concerts are held regularly. Check opening times and the programme with the parish before you go.
What to see after St Thomas'?
Head down to Petite France, with its canals and half-timbered houses, then on to the Ponts Couverts and the terrace of the Vauban Dam. In the other direction, the cathedral is only about ten minutes' walk away.
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