Willanzheim fortified church

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Access to the Willanzheim Fortified Church

The Willanzheim fortified church encompasses the fortified areas of the churchyard around the Catholic parish church of St. Martin in Willanzheim in Lower Franconia . These include parts of Hauptstrasse, Marktplatz, Kirchstrasse and Pfarrgasse.

location

The fortified church is located in the middle of the market town of Willanzheim. Located on a slight slope at about 250 m above sea level, it towers over the village by up to 20 m. The horseshoe-shaped complex of the Gaden fortifications now covers an area of ​​3893 m 2 . From the 14th century onwards, the village was subject to changing masters, which resulted in frequent wars and looting. This is also the reason for the former village fortifications with ditches and hedges. The fortifications are documented by archaeological findings from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation .

history

The history of the fortified church is closely linked to the Martinkirche in Willanzheim. This church was donated to the Würzburg bishop in 742 , the churchyard was probably already fortified at that time. The oldest parts of the fortified church still in existence, however, date back to the 14th century. At that time the church tower was also built to get a better overview of the surrounding areas. The fortified church could be reached through two gates , of which only the eastern one has been preserved. A fortification of the churchyard is first mentioned in 1303.

In the 16th century the fortifications were completely renewed. During the Thirty Years War , the church and its surrounding fortifications were badly devastated. First the church was repaired until 1653, before the walls and alleys of the fortified church were turned to. In the 18th century, the castle was given the appearance that is still largely visible. With the changing political and military circumstances, the fortified church could no longer fulfill its purpose in the 19th century and fell into disrepair. At times the Gaden cellars were used as storage rooms.

The Second World War caused further damage to the crumbling Gaden fortification. On April 5, 1945 there was a tank bombardment and a low-flying attack. Large parts of the castle were destroyed. Unlike the church, which was rebuilt in the immediate aftermath, the fortified church was left untouched. It was not restored until 1998–2003, so that today the church and fortified church form the actual center of the village. The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation classifies the fortified church as a monument under the number D-6-75-179-2.

description

The so-called Martinushaus

The churchyard fortifications run around the church in a horseshoe shape. This shape came about because the fortification in the north of the church is completely missing, so that a square has been created. Gaden surround the entire, preserved churchyard, while the remains of the wall can only be seen in the south, west and east.

church

The church of St. Martin forms the center of the churchyard fortifications. It is not geosted, its choir faces south. The front of the church is in the north. This was probably one of the reasons for the opening of the attachment on this side. The building is divided into three window axes, and the sacristy adjoins the building in the west. Next to it rises a group of life-size figures on the Mount of Olives.

In the east of the church, the tower connects to the nave . It is 42 m high and towers over the fortified church and the village. In addition to its function as a watchtower, it also had representative purposes.

Gaden

The relief in the south of the plant

The most important alley of the churchyard fortification is the so-called Rathausgaden in the south-west of the complex. It is two-storey and has double access to the basement. Dendrochronological studies by the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments estimate the construction of parts of the complex to the year 1303. A double gate from 1582 leads over to the town hall , which rises on two floors towards the street. It is also part of the system. There is a measuring point at the arched entrance gate. Two iron measuring tapes represent the measurement of 60 cm and the usual unit of the Würzburg cubit (83.3 cm).

To the north of the town hall, inside the fortification, stands the former schoolhouse , which was subsequently built in the churchyard. It is also two-storey and now houses the village's music association. Another alley in the south of the complex was converted into the parish hall , the so-called Martinushaus. It is single-storey and has been greatly changed by renovations at the beginning of the 21st century. The former east gate originally joined this gade. Today the local Catholic library is located there.

Further gades rise in the south of the fortification between the town hall and Martinushaus. They are all one-story and mostly have double-gate gates and cellar entrances. Further, heavily modified gades are located in the east of the plant.

Walls

The remaining wall remains in the south and east of the fortified church have a well-fortified, smooth exterior. In the southern part of the fortified church in particular, the remains of the wall have slotted windows. Today they are mostly built over by the Gaden. A relief of a coat of arms is embedded in the south-east of the wall. It shows the Franconian rake framed by two lions. Above is the year 1619.

See also

literature

  • Hans Bauer: The Kitzinger Land. Valuables, monuments, curiosities. Volume II . Volkach 2007.
  • Karl Kolb: Fortified churches and fortified churches in Franconia . Wuerzburg 1977.
  • Ursula Pfistermeister: Defensive Franconia. Castles, fortified churches, city walls. Volume 2: Around Würzburg . Nuremberg 2001.
  • Karl-Heinz Wolbert: The fortified church in Willanzheim . In: Under the spell of the Schwanberg. Yearbook for the district of Kitzingen 2009 . Dettelbach 2009.
  • Oswald Zobel, Georg Karukaparampil: Little church guide to the parish church of St. Martin Willanzheim . Willanzheim.

Web links

Commons : Kirchenburg Willanzheim  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wolbert, Karl-Heinz: The fortified church in Willanzheim . P. 325.
  2. ↑ Geodata: Monument number D-6-6327-0248 , accessed on November 12, 2013.
  3. ^ Kolb, Karl: Fortified churches and fortified churches in Franconia . P. 136.
  4. ↑ Geodata: Monument number D-6-75-179-2 , accessed on November 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Bauer, Hans: The Kitzinger Land . P. 196.
  6. ^ Wolbert, Karl-Heinz: The fortified church in Willanzheim . P. 332.
  7. ^ Pfistermeister, Ursula: Wehrhaftes Franken . P. 128.

Coordinates: 49 ° 40 ′ 50.1 ″  N , 10 ° 13 ′ 54.8 ″  E