Editing Altorf

{{For|the community in the United States|Altorf, Illinois}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Altorf
|native name            = Àldorf
|commune status         = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image                  = Altorf 092.JPG
|caption                = The church in Altorf
|image coat of arms     = Blason ville fr Altorf (Bas-Rhin).svg
|arrondissement         = Molsheim
|canton                 = Molsheim
|INSEE                  = 67008
|postal code            = 67120
|mayor                  = Bruno Eyder<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = 
|coordinates            = {{coord|48.5231|7.5292|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation min m        = 162
|elevation max m        = 186
|area km2               = 10.19
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Altorf''' ({{IPA|fr|altɔʁf|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Mathieu Kappler-Altorf.wav}}; {{langx|de|Altdorf}}; {{langx|gsw-FR|Àldorf}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Bas-Rhin]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Grand Est]] region of northeastern [[France]].

The commune has been awarded '''one flower''' by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.<ref>[http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_villages_fleuris-47.html Altorf in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626121128/http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_villages_fleuris-47.html |date=2015-06-26 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[Image:Altorf 074.JPG|thumb|left|Entrance to the village of Altorf]]
[[Image:Altorf 121.JPG|thumb|left|Former tithe barn converted into a library]]

A part of the Canton of Molsheim and also its [[Arrondissement of Molsheim|arrondissement]], Altorf is located about 15 kilometres west of [[Strasbourg]]. The A352 National Highway runs from east to west across the southern portion of the commune but has no exit. Access to the commune is by road D392 which runs parallel but north of the highway and connects with Highway exit 8 to the east of the commune and west to [[Dorlisheim]]. Another access road is the D127 which comes from Jaegerhof just over the northern border (and where there is a railway station) south to the village then continuing south to [[Griesheim-pres-Molsheim]]. There are also a number of small country roads covering the commune. Most of the commune is farmland with some forests in the north-eastern portion.<ref name=Google>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Altorf,+France/@48.5209517,7.5404475,6037m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4796b24dc388228d:0x40a5fb99a396180?hl=en Googl Maps]</ref>

The ''Bras de la Bruches'' flows through the commune from west to east, through the village then east to join the ''Muelbach'' and flows east under the name ''Altorfer Arm'' until it joins the ''La Bruche'' river north of [[Strasbourg International Airport|Eintzheim Airport]]. In the north-east another waterway forms the north-eastern border of the commune.

The only other hamlet in the commune is that of Forstoff north-east of Altorf village.

{{Geographic location
| title = '''Neighbouring communes and villages'''
|width=auto
|Centre    = Altorf 
|North     = Jaegerhoff
|Northeast = [[Kolbsheim]]
|East      = [[Duttlenheim]]
|Southeast = [[Innenheim]]
|South     = [[Griesheim-pres-Molsheim]]
|Southwest = [[Rosheim]]
|West      = [[Dorlisheim]]
|Northwest = [[Molsheim]]
}}

===Toponymy===
It was known as ''Altum Coenobium'' in 787.

The origin of the commune name Altorf is from the form ''Alt-dorf'' (old town). The old spelling was still visible before the [[Second World War]].

However the spelling ''Altorf'' through ''Altorfium / Atorfium'' (related to ''Altum Coenobium'') it is more likely to come from the [[Latin]]  root ''altum''.

===Climate===
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]" (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=71900&cityname=Altdorf%2C+Alsace%2C+France&units= Climate Summary for Altorf, France]</ref>

==History==

===The Benedictine Abbey of Altorf===
[[File:Stèle funéraire au gobelet-Altorf-Musée archéologique de Strasbourg.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Funerary [[Stele]] from the 3rd century ([[Musée archéologique (Strasbourg)|Archeological Museum of Strasbourg]])]]

Altorf is located on the ancient Roman ''via romana'' or ''Bergstrasse'' which connected Strasbourg to the strategic pass of [[Donon]]. The funerary [[stele]]s of the 3rd century attest to a Roman presence.

Quickly the village's history became intertwined with that of its Benedictine abbey which was founded in 960 by Hugues III of Eguisheim called ''l'Enroue'' (Raucous), Count of Nordgau and his wife Countess Hewilde. His father, Count Eberhard IV was buried in the abbey in 972, sealing the connection between the family and Altorf.<ref>''Hii sunt fundatores hujus Ecclesiae S. Cyriaci in Altorph'', XV, Kal. Jan. obiit Heberhardus Comes, qui requiescit in choro sumno ibidem in {{lang|la|Notitiae Altorfenses}} (Latin)</ref>

The abbey had was built following a [[Cenobitic monasticism|cenobite]] community of monks called the ''Altum Coenobium'', which was reported in 787, where the name of the abbey and village came from.

Pope [[Leo IX]], son of the powerful empire family of ''Eguisheim-Dabo'' came to Altorf in 1049 to honor his ancestors. He [[consecrate]]d an [[altar]] to Saint Cyriac in 1079 and endowed it with [[relic]]s (an arm of a saint, the remains of ''Santa Maria Via Lata'' from Rome). The [[reliquary]] in oriental style represents a [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] in [[polychrome]] wood and with the words ''notitia altorfensis'' is one of the major parts of the Abbey (second part of the 12th century).

Cyriac of Malaga, who had cured [[epilepsy]] of the daughter of the Emperor [[Diocletian]] in the 4th century, became the patron saint of the village and he is celebrated on 8 August. Altorf was a place of pilgrimage for epileptics and people possessed with demons with many healings reported in the abbey archives in the 13th century.

The [[chapel]] was consecrated in 974, under the leadership of [[Maïeul]], Bishop of [[Cluny]], and Erchembald, [[Bishop of Strasbourg]]. As with the abbeys of [[Steige]] and [[Marmoutier Abbey, Alsace|Marmoutier]], the Altorf Abbey was very successful because of its many dependencies. The churches of [[Barembach]] and [[Grendelbruch]], although relatively remote, were incorporated into the abbey by a [[papal bull]] of 1192 from [[Pope Celestin III]] which involved in particular the attachment of [[tithe]]s. In particular its properties along the right bank of the Bruche extending from the course of the Rothaine into the plain of Alsace were attached to the [[bishopric of Strasbourg]] in 1226, extinguishing the line of Eguisheim.

In addition, the emperors gave the abbey the right to issue currency (currency of Saint Cyriac), from the Ottonian revival at the end of the 10th century. The Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick Barbarossa]] explicitly recognized this right with a charter in 1153. In the 13th century however, this privilege was transferred to [[Dachstein, Bas-Rhin|Dachstein]] then [[Molsheim]]. The cultural influence of the abbey led to the establishment of a [[university]] (not to be confused with that of Altdorf near [[Nuremberg]]) which was subsequently transferred to [[Molsheim]] in the [[Carthusian]] heartland there to be moved aside to form the [[University of Strasbourg]].

Economic and cultural power caused the shedding blood in Altorf in 1262 when the village and monastery were burned by the Strasbourgers who were in revolt against Bishop Walter de Geroldseck. In 1525 there was the peasant revolt which sacked the abbey ([[German Peasants' War]]). Finally a century later during the [[Thirty Years War]] which included Swedish and French forces.

In 1606, Altorf Abbey joined the Union of Bursfeld which included a hundred Benedictine monasteries and was in 1624 formally called the ''Benedictine Congregation of Strasbourg'' (covering the abbeys of [[Ebersmunster]] and [[Marmoutier]] in Alsace, as well as of Ettenheimmünster, [[Gengenbach]], Schuttent, and Schwarzbach in [[Baden]]).

===The Peasants' Headquarters===
The [[German Peasants' War|Peasants' epic struggle]] (the ''Bundschuh'' or ''Deutscher Bauernkrieg''), which had partly originated from the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in 1524, crystallized in Lower Alsace around Altorf, [[Dorlisheim]], and [[Boersch]]. The leaders of the movement were ''Erasmus Gerber'' and ''Georg Ittel'', respectively from [[Molsheim]] and [[Rosheim]], established themselves with a group of 1500 men at their headquarters in Altorf, from where the contagion spread throughout the province in a week with their troops raiding monasteries and mistreating Jews.

Father Nartz reported these events in his monograph of 1887:

"From the first days of April, the [[Schultheiß]] of Rosheim: 'Ittel'' stood, with two townsfolk of Molsheim, at the head of the movement in the countryside. In a few days he had assembled a strong band of farmers of 1,500 men. From this number he chose messengers responsible to scour the area calling for men to convene on the plain of Altorf during the week of Easter. They then, armed with clubs, decided to finish with the nobility and clergy men. One group, consisting of countrymen from Epfig and Dambach, seized Ebersmunster and settled there; the second group was recruited closer to us: they gathered in  the ''Val de Villé'' of Scherwiller at Saales and plundered the monastery of Honcourt and stole everything they could."

The revolt was put down a few weeks later, on 20  May 1525 near [[Saverne]], by Duke [[Antoine de Lorraine]] with 18,000 of the insurgents dead.

===The Thirty Years War===
The [[Thirty Years War]] originated in [[Bohemia]] with the [[Defenestrations of Prague|Defenestration of Prague (1618)]]. It spread like wildfire from 1620 through the entire [[Holy Roman Empire]].

On this occasion, Swedish troops led by Marshal [[Gustaf Horn]] were stationed in the village in the autumn of 1632.

Engaged by the Swedish king [[Gustavus Adolphus]] in the European politico-religious conflict in support of the German Protestant princes, they practiced a policy of terror against Catholics in the region (the peasants fled at the cry of "Der Schwedt kommt" (the Swedes are coming), terrified by the "Swedish torture" or ''Schwedentrunk'' which consisted of ingesting manure to suffocation). The population of Altorf were almost exclusively Catholic at that time and so suffered from this presence as did [[Molsheim]] and [[Mutzig]] which was sacked in November 1632 with the help of Protestants in the neighbouring village of [[Dorlisheim]] who put ladders at the disposal of the Swedes to scale the ramparts.

In this regard, Altorf constituted an anchor point in the reconquest of the catholic [[Counter-Reformation]], a reconquest which had been prepared by opening a college of Jesuits in Molsheim in 1580. The style and decoration of the church are particularly characteristic, very similar to those that can be seen in other [[Habsburg]] lands ([[Vienna]] and [[Prague]] in particular).

The epitaph of the Abbot Matern recounts success in 1686 in bringing the inhabitants of the commune of [[Duttlenheim]] to the Roman Church by making them leave the "[[Martin Luther|Luther]] sect". This period of the war was difficult for the population judging by the fact that the wealthy abbey had to pledge the abbey cross in 1637 which it was able to recover only twenty years later.

The human toll of the Thirty Years War for Altorf - and more generally for Alsace - was very severe. This was compounded by the resilience of the plague and famine due to the harsh winters of the [[Little Ice Age]]. The demographic impact was probably comparable to that of other regions of the Holy Roman Empire, such as Württemberg who lost 80% of its population at the same time.

===The [[French Revolution]]===
In 1791, the abbey was dissolved by the revolutionaries and the thirteen [[Benedictine]] monks were forced to leave. Father Cyriakus Spitz became the last in a succession of abbots over 800 years.

The [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]] over the main door was destroyed and was replaced in 1886 by the sculptor Eugène Dock.

All the buildings constituting the abbey with its outbuildings were razed in the 19th century except for the wing of the abbey who has recently been the presbytery office.

===Current Situation of the Reconstruction of the abbey===
The abbey and its outbuildings have been rebuilt several times including in 1180 with the construction of a new abbey which followed the first work commissioned in 1133 by Father Otton.

The most notable works are those of the convent buildings and [[transept]] from 1715 by the Austrian Baroque master [[Peter Thumb]], the construction of the [[Pipe organ|organ]] by [[André Silbermann]] in 1723, and, from 1985 to 1991, a complete restoration under the supervision of the [[Parson]] Henri Host.

The church was protected as a Historical Monument in 1932, registered in 1937, and gazetted in 1983.

In 2000 the lintel of the door of the village (''Klostertor'') which was damaged in 1965 was restored. In 2001 the Tithe Barn (''Zehntelschir'') was transformed into a library. In 2004 the Abbey Gardens (''Hortus'', ''herbarium'', ''Pomarium'') were restored, equipped, and opened to the public.

===Heraldry===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason ville fr Altorf (Bas-Rhin).svg
|legend1=Arms of Altorf 
|text=
'''Blazon:'''<br/>
''Azure, a meat-hook of Or hooked to an annulet the same.''<ref name="newgaso">[http://newgaso.fr/frame_com.php3?num_dep=67 Blazons for communes in Bas-Rhin], Jean-Paul de Gassowski, consulted on 24 May 2009 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
}}

==Administration==
'''List of Successive Mayors of Altorf'''<ref>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=5974 List of Mayors of France] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

{{Hidden begin
|title=Mayors from 1815 to 1942
|titlestyle = background:palegreen;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 1815 || 1832 || Thomas Klein
|-
| 1832 || 1848 || Amand Klein 
|-
| 1848 || 1870 || Joseph Schaeffer 
|-
| 1870 || 1877 || Alois Bürel 
|-
| 1877 || 1886 || Charles Schaeffer 
|-
| 1886 || 1890 || Nicolas Foesser
|-
| 1890 || 1909 || Charles Schaeffer 
|-
| 1909 || 1919 || Aloise Heller 
|-
| 1919 || 1927 || Aloise Voltz 
|-
| 1927 || 1942 || Auguste Salomon 
|}
{{Hidden end}}

;Mayors from 1942

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name 
|-
| 1942 || 1944 || Lucien Vetter 
|-
| 1945 || 1947 || Aloise Schaeffer 
|-
| 1947 || 1965 || Charles Meppiel 
|-
| 1965 || 1971 || Eugène Eyder 
|-
| 1971 || 1977 || Antoine Klein 
|-
| 1977 || 1983 || Marcel Schaeffer 
|-
| 1983 || 2001 || Antoine Klein 
|-
| 2001 || 2008 || Régine Kientzi 
|-
| 2008 || 2020 || Gérard Adolph 
|-
| 2020 || 2026 || Bruno Eyder
|}

==Demography==
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Altorfois'' or ''Altorfoises'' in French.<ref>[https://www.habitants.fr/bas-rhin-67 Le nom des habitants du 67 - Bas-Rhin], habitants.fr</ref>

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|545|Altorf}}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-67008#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |625
|1800 |719
|1806 |772
|1821 |851
|1831 |895
|1836 |913
|1841 |937
|1846 |945
|1851 |976
|1856 |934
|1861 |920
|1866 |943
|1872 |913
|1875 |828
|1880 |858
|1885 |818
|1890 |806
|1895 |792
|1900 |757
|1905 |765
|1910 |790
|1921 |744
|1926 |777
|1931 |809
|1936 |824
|1946 |826
|1954 |813
|1962 |814
|1968 |796
|1975 |746
|1982 |883
|1990 |941
|1999 |1100
|2007 |1179
|2012 |1280
|2017 |1293
}}

==Culture and heritage==

===Civil heritage===
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 4 Rue des Meuniers (1787){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011117|IA67011117 Farmhouse at 4 Rue des Meuniers}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 7 Rue des Meuniers (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011118|IA67011118 Farmhouse at 7 Rue des Meuniers}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Town Hall / School''' at 12 Rue Principale (1869).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011115|IA67011115 Town Hall / School at 12 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The Town Hall contains a Boundary Stone (1764){{Palissy Icon}} which is registered as an historical object.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016915|PM67016915 Boundary Stone}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 16 Rue Principale (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011119|IA67011119 Farmhouse at 16 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 27 Rue Principale (1797){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011120|IA67011120 Farmhouse at 27 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Guardhouse''' at 29 Rue Principale (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011116|IA67011116 Guardhouse at 29 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> formerly the ''Wachstub''.
*A '''Well''' at 41 Rue Principale (1617){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011124|IA67011124 Well at 41 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Tannery''' at 56 Rue Principale (1845){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011123|IA67011123 Tannery at 56 Rue Principale}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Public Bench''' at RD 127 (1863){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011126|IA67011126 Public Bench at RD 127}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Well''' at Place Saint-Cyriaque (1600){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=Well>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00084582|PA00084582 Well at Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 3 Place Saint-Cyriaque (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011121|IA67011121 Farmhouse at 3 Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Farmhouse''' at 5 Route de Strasbourg (1843).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011122|IA67011122 Farmhouse at 5 Route de Strasbourg}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The farm contains a High-relief: Trinity and Virgin (1843){{Palissy Icon}} that is registered as an historical object.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016917|PM67016917 High-relief: Trinity and Virgin}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Mansion''' at Jaegerhof (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011125|IA67011125 Mansion at Jaegerhof}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*'''Houses and Farms''' (17th-20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011106|IA67011106 Houses and Farms}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Religious heritage===
The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*The '''Chapel''' at Rue de la Chapelle (1846).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011114|IA67011114 Chapel at Rue de la Chapelle}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The chapel contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
**Movable items and monuments of secondary interest{{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016913|PM67016913 Movable items and monuments of secondary interest}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A set of 2 Paintings (1869){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016912|PM67016912 Set of 2 Paintings}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The Benedictine Abbey '''Tithe Barn''' at 10 Cour de la Dime (1749){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=Tithe>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00125214|PA00125214 Tithe Barn at 10 Cour de la Dime}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011111|IA67011111 Mill and Farm at Cour de la Dime}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> now converted into a library.
*The Benedictine Abbey '''Mill and Farm''' at Cour de la Dime (1749){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011112|IA67011112 Mill and Farm at Cour de la Dime}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*An '''Abbey''' at Place Saint-Cyriaque (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00084581|PA00084581 Abbey at Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
*The Benedictine Abbey '''Well''' at Place Saint-Cyriaque (1739){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011113|IA67011113 Well at Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Church of Saint-Cyriaque''' (former abbey church) at Place Saint-Cyriaque (1725).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=cyriaque>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011108|IA67011108 Church of Saint-Cyriaque at Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The church contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.<ref name=cyriaque/>
*The '''Benedictine Abbey''' at Place Saint-Cyriaque (10th century).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011107|IA67011107 Benedictine Abbey at Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The Abbey contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
**Movable items and monuments of secondary interest{{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016990|PM67016990 Movable items and monuments of secondary interest}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Bas-relief: Head of an Abbot (1568){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67015753|PM67015753 Bas-relief: Head of an Abbot}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The Benedictine Abbey '''Gatehouse''' at 5 Place Saint-Cyriaque (1663){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011110|IA67011110 Gatehouse at 5 Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The Benedictine Abbey '''Lodgings''' at 6 Place Saint-Cyriaque (1708).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA67011109|IA67011109 Lodgings at 6 Place Saint-Cyriaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The Lodgings contain several items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Cabinet (1) (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016926|PM67016926 Cabinet (1)}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Cabinet (2) (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016925|PM67016925 Cabinet (2)}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A [[Corbel]] (17th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016924|PM67016924 Corbel}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Cabinet (3) (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|IM67016923|PM67016923 Cabinet (3)}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*A '''Funeral Structure''' (Iron Age){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=Iron>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00084583|PA00084583 Funeral Structure}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===The Church of Saint Cyriac===
This Benedictine church was founded in 960 by Hugh III of Eguisheim, was rebuilt in the 12th century, then again in the 17th century after a fire, and, more significantly, in the 18th century.

The church is unique and majestic through a combination of a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] triple [[nave]] with sides in cut stone (17th century) in one part and [[baroque]] elements baroque in the other part with the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] and [[transept]] in masonry and stone from the first quarter of the 18th century.

The centre is topped by an octagonal bell tower made of wood and covered with slated wood-scale. It was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt afterwards.

The Baroque reconstruction commissioned by Abbot Amandus (Amand Zimmerman) was conducted by the Austrian master [[Peter Thumb]] in 1715 for the convent buildings and 1724 for the choir and transept. The wing of the Abbey (the current presbytery) was made in 1707 by Albert Regitz d'[[Obernai]].

These works were completed in 1727 with stuccoed decor: a marble altar with carved figures depicting a miraculous cure of Saint Cyriac, imposing oak stalls, and then an organ in 1730. The organ was originally commissioned by the Franciscans of Sarrebourg from the famous organ builder [[André Silbermann]] from [[Saxony]] but was finally acquired by the abbey of Altorf and harmoniously complements the baroque surroundings.<ref>{{Base Palissy|PM67000015 |PM67000015 The furniture in the Abbey Church of Saint Cyriaque}}</ref><ref>{{Base Palissy|PM67000982|PM67000982 The organ in the Abbey Church of Saint Cyriaque}}</ref><ref>{{Base Palissy|PM67000004|PM67000004 The body of the organ in the Abbey Church of Saint Cyriaque}}</ref><ref>{{Base Palissy|PM67000003|PM67000003 The instrument part of the organ in the Abbey Church of Saint Cyriaque}}</ref>

The porter's house guarding the entrance to the tithe barn is part of the church and the [[rectory]] of the few elements of the abbey that still exist today. The [[cloister]], the house, and the outbuildings were destroyed during the French Revolution and in the 19th century.

The church formerly contained the [[tomb]]s of the Dabo ancestors of Pope [[Leo IX]] and the [[House of Lorraine]].

Many other objects ([[altar]], [[chalice]], etc.) are included in the Palissy database and protected as such.<ref name=cyriaque/>

===Tombstone of Conrad de Gougenheim===
[[File:Altorf 088.JPG|thumb|Tombstone of Conrad de Gougenheim]]
The Church has in its inventory a tombstone bearing the image of the monk Conrad de Gougenheim, steward of the abbey in the middle of the 14th century. He was in charge of the finances of the convent but also conducted religious affairs.

The tombstone depicts the deceased standing between two small columns surmounted with a flowered bracket. He holds in his hand a book while his feet stand on a dog.<ref>{{Base Palissy|PM67000012|PM67000012 The tombstone of Conrad de Gugenheim}}</ref>

===The Renaissance Well===
Made of Vosges pink [[sandstone]]. After a few years outside the walls of the Saint Cyriaque abbey the well was returned to its original place in 1739 in the gardens of the abbey on the occasion of their opening to the public.<ref name=Well/>

===Standing Stones===
Situated in the locality of ''Gansweidt'' the ''[[Menhir]]'' or standing stones mark the boundary of the village from their 40-metre height. They probably date back to before Celtic settlement of the region.

The coat of arms of the village is visible halfway up (a late sculpture). Registered on 20 May 1930 as a historical monument.<ref name=Iron/>

===The Cloister Gardens===
The Cloister's gardens were open to the public in 2004.

The journey through the ''Pomarium'' (garden cemetery), the ''Herbularius'' (herb garden), and the ''Hortus'' (vegetable garden) testifies to the high level of organization of Benedictine monastic life according to the [[Rule of Saint Benedict]]  "Ora et Labora" ("prayer and work").

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
File:Altorf 01.JPG|Altorf Abbey
File:Altorf 016.JPG|Abbey Church
File:PA00084581 Altdorf Eglise abbatiale Saint-Cyriaque PM 50150.jpg|Abbey Church inside
File:PA00084581 Altdorf Eglise abbatiale Saint-Cyriaque PM 50138.jpg|Abbey Church inside
File:PA00084581 Altdorf Eglise abbatiale Saint-Cyriaque PM 50144.jpg|Pulpit
File:Altorf StCyriaque45.JPG|Reliquary of St Cyriacus (center)
File:Alt_abbatiale_puit_061.jpg|Renaissance Well 
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Welf (father of Judith)|Welf, count of Altorf]] d. 825.
*[[Communes of the Bas-Rhin department]]

===Bibliography===
*P. Magnus Sattler, ''Kurze Geschichte der Benedictiner-Abtei von Altdorf'', Strassburg Bauer (1887) {{in lang|de}}
*Abbé Nartz, ''Val de Villé, it sorigins in the 17th century'', éditions Lorisse (1887) {{in lang|fr}}
*Archange Sieffert, ''Altdorf, Geschichte von Abtei und Dorf'', Koenigshofen Saint Fidèle (1950) {{in lang|de}}
*Günter Metken, ''Saint Cyriakus in Altdorf'', éditions Schnell u. Steiner Verlag (1966)
*Henri Host, ''Catholic Parish Church, former Benedictine Abbey of Saint Cyriaque at Altorf'', éditions Schnell und Steiner (1981) {{in lang|fr}}
*Philippe Dollinger, Raymond Oberle, ''History of Alsace, from Prehistory to today'', éditions SAEP (1985) {{in lang|fr}}
*Jean Vogt, ''Property owners, Entrepreneurs, and heads of the village at Altorf at the beginning of the 19th century'', (1986) {{in lang|fr}}
*E. Fritsch, ''Church of Saint-Cyriaque at Altorf, former benedictine abbey'', Éditions du Signe (2004) {{in lang|fr}}
*Charles Walther, ''The Thirty Years War in Alsace'', Société d'histoire et d'archéologie du Ried Nord (2006) {{in lang|fr}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ot-molsheim-mutzig.com/en/ Molsheim-Mutzig Region Tourist Office]
*[http://www.altorf.fr/ Altorf official website] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=48.5231&lon=7.5292&zoom=13 ''Aldorff'' on the 1750 Cassini Map]

{{Commons category|Altorf}}

{{Bas-Rhin communes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Bas-Rhin]]