The church Ferrette is one of the oldest churches in Alsace. Indeed, the base of the great tower which still forms the main body of the chancel of the church, could have been one of many square towers built by Rome in the fourth century to protect against invasions Alamanes and order different passes leading to the Rhine plain inside Gaul. Most of these towers were also used for the exercise of the pagan cult and were occupied later by the feudal lords because of their strategic position or the new evangelizers to counter paganism.
When in 1042, Louis Scarpone or Mousson (1010-1073), the paternal grandfather of the first Earl of Ferrette, Frederick I, was assigned regions Montbéliard, Altkirch and Ferrette by Emperor Conrad Germanic II, he had to take possession of the old Roman fortifications at the peak of the rocky ridge of the Schlossberg and an abandoned tower at the entrance to the gorge. According to a text dated sixteenth century, another family member, also named Frederick, who had built the first church from the tower around 1050.
According to a tradition, even Frederick (IV?) Would have accompanied to Rome around 1049, its close relative, Bruno of Eguisheim, which will be inducted as the Pope Leo IX. On his return in the Alps, he found refuge in the Hospice of the Great Saint Bernard. In recognition of this welcome, he obtained the property in Leo IX Ferrette monks of the Grand St Bernard. They made their entrance in 1053 and founded their priory near the old tower. Soon the weep holes and loopholes of the tower disappeared and Catholic worship was officially established there. In memory of their origin, the monks placed the church under the patronage of St Bernard of Menthon St Bernard also says Aosta (1020-1081 or 86) and founder of the Order of the Alpine Hospice. This term is unique in Alsace.
Towards the end of the twelfth century, the small town of Ferrette has been expanding since the arrival at the castle in 1125 of the first Earl of Ferrette, the church became too small. A hole was drilled in the large tower to which a nave was built. In the thirteenth century a Gothic choir was opened on the opposite side of the tower. It is primitive Gothic style or lancets as evidenced by the pointed arch used in windows that are tall, narrow twinned. The columns are slender, alone or grouped and foothills outside are essential to the strength of the work: so for 700 years nothing has changed.
Towards 1253, the bishop of Basel, Berthold Ferrette, brother of the Count Ulrich I guarantee the priory of the Grand St Bernard possession of the church and a hospice Ferrette also founded by the counts. But two centuries later, in 1450, is the Abbey of Lucelle who gets the administration of the parish of Ferrette after challenging the rights and possessions of the Alpine monastery. The latter will retain the rights until 1537. By the end of the fourteenth century, the church appears again too small and heavy and massive nave is built to serve the cult but also, if necessary, to the defense.
In 1728, the only entrance to the church that was right to the upper town is walled and a new entry in the axis of the nave replaces it with a double door protected by a simple porch. In 1792, the ferrettiens transported two of the three bells in Foundry Belfort to make cannons. After the revolution, the church and priory were declared national property and the church was closed until 1804 when it was returned to the Church.
Enlargement and restoration of the church were thrown in 1860 because the old nave became too small and damp, but nothing came. Fifty years later, the former project is handed over to the agenda under the leadership of Francis Xavier Muller priest. From June 1906 to August 1910, several projects were proposed and a final draft was agreed in July 1911 for an amount of 114,000 marks. The old nave was then completely destroyed and there remains only the tower and the choir classified MH since 1902.
The new neo-Gothic nave is higher and longer than the old and the architect managed to harmoniously integrate with the tower and the choir. A high arc ogival separates it from the large tower. It consists of five bays whose cornerstone has an armorial shield recalling the historic past Ferrette.
To regulate the proportions of the new nave with the old tower was raised this one 6 m and by that also the belfry, but still maintain the roof gable. The new nave was solemnly blessed July 2, 2014 by Bishop François Zorn von Bulach...
