Kirchenburg Ostheim, Ostheim

Kirchenburg Ostheim is a fortified church in the Lower Franconian town of Ostheim vor der Rhön in the Rhön-Grabfeld district. The town church of St. Michael there is located within a double ring wall built between 1400 and 1450 with a kennel in between. The double ring wall has five defense towers and is reinforced with six bastions halfway along the wall. The Protestant church, built in the Renaissance style on the foundations of a predecessor church, dates from 1615 to 1619. 66 vaulted cellars with 72 gaden, which served as shelters in times of war and where the villagers kept their belongings safe in times of crisis, are located within the fortifications. With a floor area of 75 by 75 meters, it is considered the largest and best preserved fortified church in Germany. Some of the vaulted cellars are used by the local population as storage cellars.