Krukenburg

The Krukenburg in Helmarshausen was an unusual fortified church.

The castle was both a defensive and residential building and housed secular and spiritual power, which often lived in it as enemies. In order to pacify the conquered Saxons, Charlemagne often stayed in the area of the Weser and Diemel rivers. Missionaries often worked in the protection of the imperial troops and built the first churches. So also on the Krukenberg near Helmarshausen. The plans for this church building come from the Orient, where this type of building known as the cross-domed church is widespread. The Helmarshausen abbot Wino was sent by his bishop to Jerusalem in 1033 to get the exact plans of the Holy Sepulcher Church, because this plan was to be implemented on the Krukenberg. However, this church was destroyed in 1009; so as not to return empty-handed, the abbot brought the floor plan of a cross-domed church with him, which he assumed most closely corresponded to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Around 100 years after the church was built, the mighty fortification was built around it. A high castle wall with a moat enclosed the Krukenberg Church. Next to it rose the mighty tower with an enormous wall thickness, which was only accessible through a small door halfway up. In addition to the gate tower and two round wall towers, two residential buildings were also integrated into the surrounding wall. The castle was never destroyed during the war. It gradually deteriorated.

The entire complex has been restored and renovated in recent years in order to at least preserve the ruins of this unique fortification for posterity.