A temple like no other in Alsace

Claude GEYERJan 3, 2025

Discovering the Half-Timbered Church of Kuhlendorf.

Front view of the church

Located in the small village of Kuhlendorf, about 30 kilometers north of Strasbourg, the half-timbered Protestant church is a unique architectural treasure in Alsace. Nestled in the heart of the Rhine plain in the Bas-Rhin department, this church is the only one of its kind in the region. Classified as a Historic Monument since 1978, it stands as a testament to local ingenuity and traditions.

The Kuhlendorf church is remarkable for its original design: it is divided into two distinct spaces. One is dedicated to religious ceremonies, while the other served community purposes, including a school and housing for the schoolteacher. This dual function reflects the importance of education and collective life in Protestant society at the time, where simplicity and functionality were highly valued.

Side and back view

The building’s layout reveals its clever organization. In the past, the church’s main entrance was through a door facing the street, while the school was accessed from the side. At the rear, the ground floor housed the classroom, and the upper floor provided living quarters for the schoolteacher.

A church similar to the houses

Constructed in 1820 using the same materials and in the same style as the other houses in the village, this church is a perfect example of architecture adapted to local constraints. At a time when stone was scarce and expensive in the region, builders turned to locally available materials such as wood and wattle and daub. It is distinguished only by its steeple and the height of its windows.

Inside, the church still retains its original furnishings, including a wooden altar that is both simple and elegant, typical of Protestant aesthetics. On the exterior, the beautifully preserved half-timbering tells the story of the place. The adjacent cemetery, imbued with serenity, offers a space for reflection and commemorates the generations that have shaped the life of the village.
This quaint, atypical church is a testament to the vibrant Protestant communities in northern Alsace, where they coexisted peacefully with their Catholic neighbors..