The little town of Rosheim, at the foot of Mont Saint-Odile near Obernai, is renowned for its beautiful Romanesque buildings. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, all in yellow sandstone, was built in the 12th century and is a must-see on the Alsace Romanesque Route. The Church of St. Stephen, built at the end of the 18th century, is a fine example of the region's Neo-Classical architecture. Its plans were inspired by Ancient Rome, with its four Doric columns and its colossal façade housing a statue of St. Odile.
It's also worth taking a detour via Rosheim to admire the Romanesque House on Rue du Général de Gaulle. Also known as the Pagan House, it's one of the oldest stone houses in Alsace. Built in 1154, this pink sandstone edifice is a remarkable example of medieval civil architecture. The Romanesque town has a few more gems: its four monumental gates which were once part of the old ramparts, one of which features a Clock Tower, the Renaissance well with six buckets and the medieval garden adorned with domestic and wild plants. This calm and peaceful spot, far from the crowds, is a lovely place to stop for a rest.
Small town of more than 5 000 inhabitants, Rosheim takes place in the department of Bas-Rhin, in region Great East. Wine center of the Alsace Wine Route, it is located about twenty kilometers from Strasbourg, not far from Molsheim.
The many remains found on site testify to a permanent human occupation of several thousand years in the territory of Rosheim. The village as we know it was born in the course of the eighth century. Destroyed by a fire in the twelfth century, the town of Rosheim was completely rebuilt thanks to the generous donations of the future emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, the Hohenstaufen. Free city of Empire at the beginning of the fourteenth century, it will form until the end of the seventeenth century the Decapolis, a mutual aid alliance of ten free cities. It is at the end of this period that it is then annexed to the kingdom of France.
Alsatian city full of charm, Rosheim has retained many vestiges of this past glorious and eventful, revealing a beautiful architectural heritage. Its proximity to Strasbourg, the Mecca of tourism in the East, also makes it a popular holiday resort.
Listed as an historic monument, the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul dates from the mid-12th century. It takes place on the remains of an old religious building destroyed by fire in 1132 and of which the base of the choir tower remains. Considered to be one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in the region, it is also the first where we see sculpture in the round. Entirely in yellow Westhoffen sandstone, it also has a later 14th century bell tower in pink sandstone. It is possible to admire very beautiful bas-reliefs on the walls of the nave and the apse, while the capitals reveal interesting sculptures, including twenty-one human faces all different from each other.
Other religious buildings of great interest also take place in the town, like the Saint-Etienne church at the end of the 18th century. It is classified as an historic monument for its whole apart from the sacristy. Do not miss to admire the monastery Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur founded in the mid-19th century by Benedictines of the Blessed Sacrament. The sisters, always present, still live according to the rules of Saint Benedict. You will also see a pre-Roman style synagogue dating from 1884, and the Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours chapel with its magnificent altarpiece.
Strolling through the heart of Rosheim, you will be able to appreciate the Roman House or Pagan House, considered to be the oldest civil construction in Alsace. Located rue du Général-de-Gaulle, this stone building dates from the 12th century and was originally surrounded by a courtyard and a palisade. Completely restored in the early 2000s, it is destined to house a new museum on the Roman road to Alsace. La Maison Romane welcomes you to tell you about its origins and life at the time of its construction. Who lived within its walls? How did people live in medieval times? Entrance by reservation. Guided tour minimum 10 people: 2 euros per person.
Built in the middle of the 18th century, the town hall of Rosheim does not lack charm, just like the many old half-timbered and colorful houses that occupy the center of the town. The city also has vestiges of interior and exterior ramparts dating from the 12th century and the second half of the 14th century, with in particular the gates of the Hôtel-de-Ville, the School, the Virgin, the Lion, Haute, or the Sainte-Marthe tower and the various corner towers. You will also appreciate the rose garden and the medieval garden on site.
Visits offered by the heritage center are possible by reservation or during the summer period. More information: maison.romane@rosheim.com
