Altorf - Saint-Cyriaque

A benedictian abbey was founded here in 960. The first church of this abbey got consecrated in 974. Pope Leo IX, descendant of the founder, transferred the relics of Saint-Cyriaque toAltdorf, when he still was Count of Egisheim-Dagsburg.

During the last decades of the 12th century this first church was replaced by this massive basilica, built from reddish sandstone. The western facade, seen here, has the classical architectoral design of a basilica: a wide central nave under a high roof, flanked by two aisles under lower roofs.

The convent in Altorf existed upto the French Revolution - and since then Saint-Cyriaque is a parish church.