Built according to the plans of the architect Johann Adam Rüppel of Bonn, the laying of the first stone of this magnificent ediffice took place on September 4, 1904. It was consecrated by Bishop Willibrord Benzler on April 28, 1907.
The Neo-Gothic-inspired Saint-Martin Church has the appearance of a cathedral with its two spires that rise to almost 70m, which is why it is called «Saarland Cathedral». It is built of Vosges sandstone from the Rauscher quarries of Adamsviller. His side altars of St Joseph (1908) and of the Sacred Heart (1921) are the work of Emile Collin; Valentin Jaeg of Strasbourg sculpts, on war damage, that of the Virgin and that of St Martin. The church suffered 4 destructions: the collapse of the south bell tower in 1930, the bombings of 1940 and 1944 and the great fire of the roof following a lightning impact on May 28, 1954 with the collapse of the north bell tower.
The oldest and most exceptional part of the “cathedral” is undoubtedly the high altar, also in the Gothic Revival style. Its benches, its organ and its magnificent stained glass windows have their history, to discover....