That historic churches burn has become so commonplace that it is no longer newsworthy. On 30 April, Église Saint-Cyriaque in Montenach was struck by a major fire. The church, which was built between 1884 and 1886, sustained extensive damage – the roof structure was completely destroyed.
The fire began in the vegetation around the church on Rue du Cimetière and spread rapidly to the building. The inhabitants of the small French village near the border with Germany describe the fire as a catastrophe.
French churches burn most in Europe
Around 70 firefighters were mobilised to extinguish the flames. The cause is under investigation and it is not ruled out that the fire was arson.
The fire in Montenach is the latest in a long series of fires in French churches. According to figures from Observatoire du Patrimoine Religieux and French intelligence, there has been a marked increase in criminal (deliberately set) church fires from 2023 to 2024.
- In 2023, 27 church fires were recorded, of which eight were classified as criminal.
- In 2024, 26 fires were recorded, of which 14 were considered criminal – that is, a clear increase in the proportion of proven arson.
Are all the French on here practicing Muslims or are they retarded? https://t.co/eQDeTV6AgS
— OutOftheShadows (@A_wakeUSA) May 1, 2026
Approximately 1,000 anti-Christian incidents in the form of vandalism, etc., are recorded annually, which is the highest in Europe. Common forms of vandalism include desecration of altars, smashing of statues, graffiti with anti-Christian or Islamic slogans, theft of liturgical objects and destruction of cemeteries. In 2024–2025, the number of thefts of ecclesiastical objects has increased markedly.
Organisations and elected representatives have expressed concern that France’s Christian cultural heritage – around 45,000 churches and chapels – is under systematic pressure. Large parts of the French population experience this as an attack on the nation’s cultural and religious roots.