Marmoutier

Visit Marmoutier, Alsace

Marmoutier is located in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region, south of Saverne and west of Strasbourg. The town is best known and most visited for the 10-12th century benedictine abbey church of Saint Martin.

Marmoutier Abbey

Founded by an Irish monk called Leobard as early as the 6th century, the abbey is the oldest in the Alsace region - although the abbey we see today dates from the 12th century. It was a very prosperous abbey until the revolution, when such monastic establishments were banned. (Note: the choir section was reconstructed in the 17th century.)

Marmoutier abbey is best known for its ornate facade, in a style combining roman and byzantine elements in an attractive design with three towers: there is a central belltower and additional smaller towers to each side (square becoming octagonal at the top).

The facade features many ornate carvings, particularly of a wide range of animals and human faces. Take a while to look at the extraordinary level of detail in the carvings around the windows and in the capital stones of the facade, and then pass around the outside to see the ornate 12th century entrance on the north side.

Inside Marmoutier abbey church the stalls and organ are of particular interest - the organ is one of very few examples that remain of those produced by the renowned André Silbermann (another important example is at Ebersmunster).

You can also see a very ancient stone carving featuring busts and other remnants such as sarcophagi from the original church (destroyed by fire around 724 AD) displayed in a crypt underneath the abbey church (small entry charge payable).

Other buildings remain from the original Marmoutier Abbey complex, such as the one currently used as the town mairie (town hall).

Elsewhere in Marmoutier

There is also a museum in Marmoutier which faithfully reproduces the inside of a typical Alsace home - the Musée du Pays de Marmoutier - which is one of several attractive half-timbered houses in the town.

Photos of Marmoutier (click any picture to start the gallery)

Suggested places to visit near Marmoutier, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Rosheim 22km; Obernai 26km; Mont-Sainte-Odile 28km; Strasbourg 29km; Le Struthof 30km; Barr 32km; Chateau Andlau 32km; Mittelbergheim 33km; Epfig 37km; Bitche 40km; Ebersmunster 43km; Lembach 46km; Selestat 48km; Kintzheim 48km; Fleckenstein 49km; Hoffen 49km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Marmoutier

Marmoutier tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin botanique du col de Saverne - remarkable garden (6km) : Vosges-du-Nord - regional natural parc (19km) : Jardin du chateau de Kolbsheim - remarkable garden (21km) : Jardin de l'Escalier - remarkable garden (24km) : Domaine du Windeck - remarkable garden (26km) : Jardin botanique de l'université de Strasbourg - remarkable garden (29km) : Bischheim - ville fleurie 4* (29km) : Jardin de la ferme bleue - remarkable garden (30km) :

French version: see Marmoutier (Francais)