Vicelin Church Ratekau

The Protestant Vicelinkirche Ratekau - also called Ratekau field stone church - is one of the best preserved field stone churches / fortified churches from the 12th century in East Holstein. The church is shown in the coat of arms of the community of Ratekau.The construction of the Ratekau Church began in the 12th century shortly after Wagrien was conquered by the Holsten in 1138/39. In 1147 Wagrien was given to Count Adolf II of Schauenburg and Holstein as a fief by Heinrich the Lion. Adolf II commissioned Vizelin with the spread of Christianity among the Slavs. At the same time he began colonization with new settlers with Christian settlers. Also called Vicelinkirchen churches are the Petrikirche in Bosau, the St. Laurentius Church in Süsel and St. Johannis in Neukirchen (Bad Malente). Construction began in 1156, two years after Vizelin's death. Count Adolf and Bishop Gerold von Oldenburg chose the place together, as Helmold von Bosau reports in his Slav chronicle. The church was first mentioned in a document in 1234/1235 when the apse arch and vault were renewed.It is a single-nave hall church built in the Romanesque style with a choir and apse as well as a 48-meter-high (leaning) round tower that served as a defensive tower. The church was built mainly from field stones using gypsum mortar from the Segeberger Kalkberg and has a gable roof covered with wooden shingles. The Protestant Vicelinkirche was renovated from 2008 to 2011. Since then it has been heated with 15 geothermal probes.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicelinkirche_(Ratekau)

A worthwhile detour leads to the Vicelinkirche in Ratekau. An imposing church, which offers an impressive photo opportunity and is surrounded by pretty and decorative-looking houses.

Beautiful church in Ratekau.