St. George's Church, Sélestat 1.89

St. George's Church, Sélestat, is a Gothic church in Sélestat (formerly Schlettstadt), Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. The church, of exceptional size and quality, is near the Humanist Library, which was founded in 1452 by Jean de Westhuss, priest at the church of St. George's. Originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the church has been named after Saint George since 1500 and is famous for its Christmas trees hung since 1521Construction (8th–15th century)The building was first mentioned in records from the eighth century and was originally a baptismal chapel in the imperial palace built by Charlemagne, which the emperor is believed to have visited at Christmas in the year 775. The church stands on the remains of a large rotunda, partially cleared during excavations in the crypt in 1876 and 1902. Most of the Gothic basilica was built by Sélestat traders, a few metres from the Romanesque church of the priory of Sainte-Foy, the earlier church of the town, and its construction may be held to mark the growing wealth and independence of the merchant classes. Building of the new church — on a Latin cross groundplan with three aisles and a transept — started around 1220 and continued without interruption until the early fifteenth century. The side aisles were built during the first year, and the nave itself was raised in 1235.