Marienkirche

The landmark of Gelnhausen is the Marienkirche. It is affectionately called the “crown jewel of God” by the Gelnhäuser; it has been the central church building since the city was founded. With the growing wealth of Gelnhausen, a small church from the middle of the 12th century quickly became a splendid building, stylistically shaped by the transition from Romanesque to Gothic styles. The furnishings - especially the early Gothic sandstone lettuce depicting the Last Judgment - are of great artistic value.

When Count Dietmar von Gelnhausen founded a monastery near Selbold (today Langenselbold) in 1108, he furnished it with rich property in the southern Kinzig valley. In addition to goods in Gelnhausen, the monastery probably also acquired its own chapel, which belonged to the count's castrum and whose patronage rights were transferred to the monastery.

The Selbold Premonstratensian Monastery - initially a provost office, since 1343 an abbey - later built a church on its properties in the east of the Gelnhausen settlement, perhaps on the site of the count's chapel, from which today's St. Mary's Church arose, which is named after the patroness of the monastery had received.