The House
> 1723 - 1920
> 1920 - 2019
> 1960 - 2013
> 2020 - 2027
The Synagogue
Secularisation and repurposing
Walter Gürtler
Renovation
There is an old synagogue in Hegenheim, Alsace. As simple as it may appear, it amazes and enchants all who discover it. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it consists mainly of a large, column-free hall lined with a balustrade decorated with simple ornamentation. The light and acoustics alone cannot explain the exceptionally beautiful atmosphere of the hall, which leaves a lasting impression on everyone who visits it. But it is one reason why we are committed to preserving it. The old synagogue stands on French soil, close to the border with Basel in Switzerland. We are in the border triangle, where towns and national borders nestle together and where hardly any building is better suited to representing the history of this area than the old synagogue in Hegenheim. 

At the beginning of the 18th century, it served as the spiritual centre for the then large Jewish community of Hegenheim. Court records from 1920 document the secularisation of the synagogue, as most Jews had left the area. Since 1960, it has remained in the hands of artists, first Walter Gürtler, who lived there for 50 years and used it as a studio, and since 2014, artists who first founded a Swiss association and then a French association in 2020 to campaign for the preservation and conversion of the building. The French association's name, le ventre, is now also the name of the cultural operating concept for the former synagogue. 

When we took over the synagogue in 2014, it was in a precarious condition and there was no one, no institution, no regional authorities, no private individuals who wanted to take on the rehabilitation of this historically significant building. The reason for this was probably, on the one hand, that its historical relevance was not initially recognised and, on the other hand, that no one knew how it could be used. For artists, however, the place has always been a magnet. The spatial conditions are ideal for music, performance and installations; they offer a living space for the imaginary and are ideal as a rehearsal and development venue for cultural and artistic formats. The location of le ventre in the border triangle near Basel is perfect for promoting international exchange between artists and art lovers. le ventre can establish connections across the borders of the three countries, establish itself as a hub in the cultural landscape of the three countries with international appeal, and at the same time preserve the historical relevance and beauty of the building and its visibility.

The purchase and financing of the urgently needed roof renovation were realised through private funds. We are now seeking further capital to complete the renovation and conversion of the building. 

Your support enables and strengthens contemporary art across borders and contributes to the preservation of one of the last and best-preserved 18th-century rural synagoques in Alsace.