Chapelle d'Obersteigen

As early as 1215, a community of canons of the order of Saint Augustine settled in the monastery, they were subjected to strict rules and a harsh life. The monastery and the church date from the 13th century and the construction of the church took about 5 years. The church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and was the place of prayer for the canons. It is a late Romanesque chapel, yet it is well influenced by Gothic architecture. It has not undergone any major transformation since its construction, except in 1849 when it was restored due to the wear and tear of time. In 1844, the chapel was classified as a historical monument, which is early since the first list was published in 1840. Inside the building is a statue of the 14th century, a statue of the Virgin and Child which became a real symbol for Obersteigen. It is made of lime wood and measures 1,15m. Traces of polychromy are still visible: red, blue, green and yellow. The chapel was abandoned by the canons in the 14th century and later became a branch of the church in Wangenbourg. The chapel had to be surrounded by solid walls in order to face the attacks of the looters attracted by the money of the exchange office, since the building is located on the road of salt which is a precious commodity. Construction began with the choir, which is such that the chapel in Aachen is octagonal in shape. The work was done by Cistercian workers, who were not only religious but also professional builders. The bays were in the shape of a cul de bouteille, that is to say the central part was thicker thanks to a blowing technique. This made it possible to act like a sundial, and to project an image at certain times. Obersteigen was a strategic place to watch the passage of heretics and to control this period of religious contestation. No less than 34 kings of Germany sat on the emperor's seat in the chapel during 7 centuries, a seat directly struck by a sunbeam. A curiosity is to be found to the right of the heart: two small snails sculpted on the pillar, barely visible and flush with the ground, their spiral representing immortality. The place gives a strong impression of tranquility, which contrasts with the liveliness of the Middle Ages and the passage that there was with the salt road.