Cycling Highlight
Recommended by 160 out of 162 cyclists
Location: Pronstorf, Kreis Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
The first mention of the church - like many of the other round tower churches in the country - as a late Romanesque fieldstone building dates back to the year 1198. It was probably built on a former pagan sacrificial site (for the Wendish god "Prone"), which was customary at the time, because so the ancient pagan sanctuaries were Christianized. The original shape of the church was probably that of a “traditional” Vicelin church: round tower, Romanesque nave and in the east a square choir with a semicircular apse. This was torn down in the early Gothic period and extended into a rectangular choir in its present form.Outside the church has some peculiarities that cannot be seen in the other round tower churches in the country. There are three supporting pillars added at a later date on the tower, another one on the southeast corner of the nave and another four on the extension of the choir. The eight-sided pointed spire of the tower was added later. In the tower itself there has only been a clock bell since 1807, which can be seen from the outside, as cracks were discovered in the masonry. To the west of the tower in the churchyard a separate bell cage ("campanile") was built, in which the only remaining bell from 1749 is located.
More: roundtowerchurches.net/de/deutschland-germany/pronstorf
May 6, 2021
The church was first documented in 1198 and is located on a hill in the center of the village of Pronstorf, surrounded by a cemetery.
It is a single-nave hall church built in the Romanesque style with a long chancel and a round tower. The church was built primarily of fieldstone and has a gable roof covered with tile.
The east side of the chancel and several buttresses were built of brick.
The tower is supported on the west side by three fieldstone retaining walls. Above these three retaining walls, the original fieldstone masonry was replaced with brick, secured by numerous cross anchors. In the front part of the tower is an opening containing an hour bell.
The original apse was demolished in the 14th century during the extension of the chancel; this later measure also led to the larger windows in the eastern part of the chancel.
The church was extensively renovated in 1958.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicelinkirche_(Pronstorf)
May 5, 2020
The round tower is unusual, making it a "fortified church." The interior is rather plain.
August 23, 2025
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