Grand Séminaire Catholique

Hidden behind Strasbourg Cathedral, the Grand Séminaire Catholique whispers stories of centuries past. Did you know its journey began not here, but in Molsheim? In 1580, while Strasbourg embraced Protestantism, a Jesuit college opened its doors in Molsheim. Twelve years later, theological teachings filled its halls, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the Grand Séminaire Catholique. It officially became a seminary in 1607, thanks to Cardinal de Lorraine. A decade later, it transformed into a university, coinciding with the dedication of the Church of the Holy Trinity, a stunning architectural gem that stands to this day. Fast forward to 1683, two years after Strasbourg returned to the Catholic fold. Guillaume Egon de Furstenberg established a seminary behind the cathedral, at the Bruderhof. The seminary’s history took another turn in 1702 when the academy relocated from Molsheim to Strasbourg. The College Louis le Grand, now Fustel de Coulanges High School, was built in 1757. The new episcopal seminary followed between 1769 and 1774, requiring the demolition of the Bruderhof. The architects of the Grand Chapitre and the bishop, Massol and Paulinier, designed the magnificent structure we see today. The Grand Séminaire Catholique opened its doors in 1774. However, the French Revolution soon cast a shadow, leading to the creation of a constitutional seminary in 1791. Seminarians were exiled, and the building became a prison for refractory priests. The building then served as a school of health, medicine, and law. It later housed faculty offices, a natural history museum, a teacher training college in 1810, and finally a Royal Academy in 1816. In 1823, the Grand Séminaire Catholique returned to its current home, exchanged by the city for the Hôtel de la Prévôté. The Faculty of Theology of Strasbourg was founded in 1902. World War I transformed the seminary into a military hospital, staffed by seminarians and nuns. During World War II, the Nazi civil administration and the offices of public instruction and worship from Karlsruhe occupied the building. Finally, in October 1945, the Grand Séminaire Catholique reopened its doors. Today, future priests of the Diocese of Strasbourg receive their training within these walls, carrying on the legacy of this resilient institution.