Saint-Thiébaut Church, Thann

St Theobald's Church, Thann
Collégiale Saint-Thiébaut
Location	Thann, Haut-Rhin
Country	France
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1332
Architecture
Heritage designation	Monument historique
Designated	1841
Style	Gothic architecture
Completed	1516
Specifications
Length	45 m (148 ft) (inside)
Height	76 m (249 ft)

The Collégiale Saint-Thiébaut (Saint-Theobald collegiate church) in Thann, Haut-Rhin is one of the most ornate Gothic churches in the whole Upper Rhenish region (Alsace, Baden, North-Western Switzerland, Palatinate). Of its 76 meters high spire, it is said that "The spire of Strasbourg is the highest, the spire of Freiburg is the broadest but the spire of Thann is the prettiest." In spite of its name, the church is actually dedicated to Saint-Ubald, of which it keeps a finger as a relic. It is listed as a Monument historique since 1841 by the French Ministry of Culture.

The building was erected between 1332 (South lateral nave) and 1516 (achievement of the tower by master Rémy (or Remigius) Faesch from Basel). It was damaged during World War II.

With a height of 16 m (52 ft) and a width of 8 m (26 ft), the main portal of the western façade (1342–1498) is one of the most outstanding features of the church. The main tympanum, depicting 21 scenes of the life of Saint-Mary is framed by a quintuple row of sculpted archivolts, each representing several dozens of other biblical scenes, while the smaller tympana below (the northern one depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus and the southern one depicting the Birth of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi) are framed by a double row of archivolts, also depicting biblical scenes. The portal is further decorated on all sides by larger than life statues of saints displaying their attributes or acting out scenes. The whole represents one of the most ornate and elaborate examples of a "Poor Man's Bible" to be seen.

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