On the top of the Mont Sainte-Odile sits the Hohenburg Abbay (commonly called Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey, but I prefer not to using it, to avoid confusion with the abbey situated in Germany which bear the same name).
Despite having been founded in the VIIth century, nearly nothing left today from the medieval times, the abbey having burnt several time during the modern period. To be honest, I think the place is of little interest in term of architecture, except for the two chapel outside and their mosaics in Byzantine Revival style. There is though a nice point of view on the valley of the Rhine from the monastery and the surroundings are ideal for hiking, with interesting places like the Heidenmauer (the Heathen Wall).
On a symbolic point, the chapel has been divided in two formal parts: the lower part is grey, without any ornaments, and symbolize the misery of earthly life, while the upper part with its gold mosaics symbolize the beauty of the heavenly world. The character on the left is Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, better know as pope Leo IX, on the right it’s Eugenie, the second abbess of the Hohenburg.
Tools and exifs:
- Canon EOS 450D + Canon 18-55 IS
- 18mm
- 1/100 s.
- f/3.5
- ISO 800
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