Fortified church
Encyclopedia
Churches have often shown potential to be used for defensive purposes.
Europe has a substantial legacy of fortified churches which were used for defensive purposes in time of war. There are also example of fortified churches in other parts of the world, for example the Philippines, which was the scene of the Siege of Baler
.
Some churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls and narrow, defensive windows. At Ávila the cathedral was incorporated into the city wall. Monastic communities, such as Lérins Abbey
, are often surrounded by a wall, and sometimes churches have an outer wall, such as St Arbogast
, Muttenz
, Switzerland
. High concentration of fortified churches can be found in parts of Europe where there was a lot of hand-to-hand warfare, for example in the Dordogne
region of France
, which was fought over by France and England
in medieval times, and in Transylvania
, which was the scene of Ottoman
invasions.
region. (See :fr:Églises fortifiées de Thiérache for details.)
in Kraków
, one of the oldest and best-preserved Romanesque
buildings in Poland
. Located at ul. Grodzka street, it was built by a medieval Polish
statesman Palatine Sieciech
in 1079–1098. St. Andrew was the only Romanesque
church in Kraków to withstand the Mongol attack
of 1241. Along the lower part of the broader section of its façade are small openings that served as defensive windows during military siege
.
region in Romania
has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. More than 150 villages in the area count various types of fortified churches, seven of them being included in the UNESCO World Heritage
under the name of Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania.
border, where defence was an important consideration until the seventeenth century, for example e.g. All Saints Church, Boltongate
in Cumbria
. Also in Cumbria, the church at Burgh by Sands
has a defensive tower. Comparable towers can be found on the Welsh
border, for instance, Garway
.
Europe has a substantial legacy of fortified churches which were used for defensive purposes in time of war. There are also example of fortified churches in other parts of the world, for example the Philippines, which was the scene of the Siege of Baler
Siege of Baler
The Siege of Baler, from July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899, was a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish-American War. Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a fortified church manned by colonial Spanish troops in the town of Baler, Philippines for 11 months.The battle is...
.
Some churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls and narrow, defensive windows. At Ávila the cathedral was incorporated into the city wall. Monastic communities, such as Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
, are often surrounded by a wall, and sometimes churches have an outer wall, such as St Arbogast
Fortified Church of St. Arbogast
The Fortified Church of St. Arbogast in the Swiss municipality of Muttenz in Basel-Country is the only church in Switzerland that is surrounded by a defensive wall. It is an example of the fortified church type of construction, and is a Swiss heritage site of national significanceThe fortified...
, Muttenz
Muttenz
Muttenz is a municipality with a population of approximately 17,000 in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It is located in the district of Arlesheim and next to the city of Basle.-History:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. High concentration of fortified churches can be found in parts of Europe where there was a lot of hand-to-hand warfare, for example in the Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, which was fought over by France and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in medieval times, and in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, which was the scene of Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasions.
France
About 65 fortified churches are found in the ThiéracheThiérache
The Thiérache or Grande Thiérache is a region of France and Belgium united by similar geography and architecture, including the presence of hedgerows, grassland, hilly terrain, scattered settlements, and traditionally-built stone or brick houses with stone dividing walls and slate roofs.Located in...
region. (See :fr:Églises fortifiées de Thiérache for details.)
Poland
A rare surviving example of a European fortress church used for defensive purposes is the Church of St. AndrewSt. Andrew's Church, Kraków
The Church of St. Andrew in the Old Town district of Kraków, Poland located at ul. Grodzka 54, is a Romanesque church built between 1079 - 1098 by a medieval Polish statesman Palatine Sieciech...
in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, one of the oldest and best-preserved Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
buildings in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Located at ul. Grodzka street, it was built by a medieval Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
statesman Palatine Sieciech
Sieciech
- Biography :All information about Sieciech has come down from the chronicler Gallus Anonymus. He was a count palatine at the court of duke Władysław I Herman of Poland. Though the exact dates of his birth and death are unknown, he is said by Gallus Anonymus to have lived in the second half of the...
in 1079–1098. St. Andrew was the only Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church in Kraków to withstand the Mongol attack
Mongol invasion of Poland
The Mongol Invasion of Poland from late 1240 to 1241 culminated in the battle of Legnica, where the Mongols defeated an alliance which included forces from fragmented Poland and members of various Christian military orders, led by Henry II the Pious, the Duke of Silesia. The first invasion's...
of 1241. Along the lower part of the broader section of its façade are small openings that served as defensive windows during military siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
.
Romania
South-eastern TransylvaniaTransylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
region in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. More than 150 villages in the area count various types of fortified churches, seven of them being included in the UNESCO World Heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
under the name of Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania.
United Kingdom
There are medieval fortified churches near the ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
border, where defence was an important consideration until the seventeenth century, for example e.g. All Saints Church, Boltongate
All Saints Church, Boltongate
All Saints Church, Boltongate, is in the village of Boltongate, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Solway, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland and the diocese of Carlisle...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. Also in Cumbria, the church at Burgh by Sands
Burgh by Sands
Burgh by Sands is a village and civil parish in the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England, situated near the Solway Firth. The parish includes the village of Burgh by Sands along with Longburgh, Dykesfield, Boustead Hill, Moorhouse and Thurstonfield....
has a defensive tower. Comparable towers can be found on the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
border, for instance, Garway
Garway
Garway is a civil parish in south-west Herefordshire, England. It is set on a hillside above the River Monnow about 10 km northwest of Monmouth. It is a sparsely populated area, mainly agricultural in nature...
.
See also
- Fortress synagogues
- Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount SinaiSaint Catherine's Monastery, Mount SinaiSaint Catherine's Monastery lies on the Sinai Peninsula, at the mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai in the city of Saint Catherine in Egypt's South Sinai Governorate. The monastery is Orthodox and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
- Tangyud MonasteryTangyud MonasteryThe Tangyud Monastery or Sa-skya-gong-mig Gompa at Hikim/Komic, Spiti, Himachel Pradesh, India, is built like a fortified castle on the edge of a deep canyon, with massive slanted mud walls and battlements with vertical red ochre and white vertical stripes which make them look much taller than...