Saint-Maurice is a Roman Catholic church building located on Place Arnold in the Neustadt district of Strasbourg, France. It was built during the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine into the German Empire in the late 19th century, with construction starting in November 1895 as part of the development of the Neustadt district. The church was designed by architect Ludwig Becker of Mainz, whose preliminary draft was selected in an architectural competition in 1893. It was consecrated on 28 May 1899 and originally served as the church of the Catholic garrison of the city.
Architecturally, Saint-Maurice is a Gothic Revival church visible from far away. Its tall, slender bell tower rises 65 meters and is set in the long perspective formed by Avenue des Vosges and Avenue de la Forêt-Noire, which connect Place de Haguenau to Place Arnold. Inside, the main altar shows the life of St. Maurice, the upper crucifix is surrounded by representations of St. Mary and St. John, and the southern chapel contains an altarpiece depicting the Virgin Mary. Near the church stands a 1897 cast of Paul Dubois’s statue of Joan of Arc, which was formerly at the entrance before the renovation of Place Arnold. On 21 February 2013, the church was vandalised and about fifteen statues were damaged.
Nearby Objects
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Hôtel Brion 200 m away -
Musée zoologique de Strasbourg 450 m away -
St. Paul's Church 800 m away -
Haute école des arts du Rhin 900 m away -
Saint William's Church 1000 m away
Location and Historical Context
Saint-Maurice is a Roman Catholic church building located on Place Arnold in the Neustadt district of Strasbourg, France. It was built during the Annexation of Alsace-Lorraine into the German Empire in the late 19th century.
Construction and Early History
Construction of Saint-Maurice began in November 1895 as part of the development of the Neustadt district. The church was designed by the Mainz architect Ludwig Becker, whose preliminary draft had been selected in an architectural competition in 1893. It was consecrated on 28 May 1899. Originally, the church served as the church of the Catholic garrison of the city. In its later history, the building was vandalised on 21 February 2013, when a man damaged about fifteen statues and placed an Islamic prayer rug and a Qur'an stolen in a mosque inside the church. The man was probably suffering from mental illness.
Architecture and Surroundings
Saint-Maurice is a Gothic Revival church that can be seen from far away, like the Protestant Church of St. Paul. Its tall and thin bell tower rises to 65 meters and was placed in the several-kilometer-long perspective formed by Avenue des Vosges and Avenue de la Forlt-Noire, which connect Place de Haguenau to Place Arnold. To the east of the church is an 1897 cast of Paul Dubois's statue of Joan of Arc. This statue formerly stood at the entrance of Saint-Maurice Church before it was moved after the renovation of Place Arnold.
Interior Decorations
The interior of Saint-Maurice includes a main altar showing the life of St. Maurice. Above it, the upper crucifix is surrounded by representations of St. Mary and St. John. The southern chapel also contains an altarpiece depicting the Virgin Mary. These features define the church's interior decoration and its focus on religious imagery.