Lautenbach - Collégiale Saint Gangolph

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material, so some of the carvings seen here, may orginate from the older church. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but some parts seem seem still unchanged.

On the other corner of the transept, next to the gutter, is a shepherd and his ram. The shepherd is obviously watching a oncoming weather-change. Behind them the fastening of a modern antenna - and on the head of the ram -sits a little bird. I am sure, that Sonja as an ornithologist, can identify the species.