Have you noticed the unique pillars reaching for the sky? These pillars mark the spot we’re exploring now. We are standing before the Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité. This church is found on Rue de Boston in the Esplanade area of Strasbourg.
Let’s step back to the 1960s. Strasbourg was expanding eastward. The city bought military land to create a new district. Archbishop Jean-Julien Weber decided a new parish was needed. It would be dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
The parish was officially created in 1962. The city acquired land at the junction of Rue de Boston and Rue de Tarade. This was to build the neighborhood church. The first priest, Abbé Charles Didierjean, started a construction association.
Three architectural firms competed to design the church. Joseph Belmont won the competition in 1964. Jean Dick managed the construction. Work began in 1965. Bishop Weber blessed the cornerstone that June. The Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité was consecrated in 1966. This was the first church built in the Esplanade district. The Christ-Ressuscité church followed in 1971.
Joseph Belmont designed the Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité. He was the chief architect for civil buildings and national palaces. The church stands 18 meters high. It is 16 meters wide and 36 meters long.
Notice how the church blends into its surroundings. The fortifications of Vauban create a unique setting. The church’s vertical nave rises gracefully. Twelve monumental pillars rhythmically accent the facade. These pillars add a Japanese touch. The carefully designed garden enhances this effect. Covered galleries lead to annexes. These include a chapel and a baptistery.
Inside the Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité the oval layout emphasizes the building’s height. Fifteen striking light walls illuminate the space. These draw your eyes toward the altar. They lead to the elegant laminated wood vault.
The bright white wall behind the altar creates a play of light and mystery. A Christ without a cross adorns one side. These sculptures add color.
Above the entrance, another light composition depicts the Tree of Jesse. It blends with the light walls. It creates a sense of upward movement toward the pure white altar.
The light walls are by François Chapuis. He was a painter, sculptor, and master glassmaker. Chapuis was known for his light walls in the 1960s. These walls combine fresco sculpture and stained glass. They feature Plexiglas plates with colored pigments and air bubbles set in resin. The colors have liturgical meaning. The light walls also include stylized symbols of creation.
The Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité became part of the Esplanade parish community in 2008. It shares this community with the Christ Ressuscitée church. As you leave consider the Église de la Très Sainte-Trinité. It is a blend of modern architecture and spiritual symbolism.