Kirchenburg Marktsteft (Church Castle)

The fortified church was probably built as early as the 12th century. The foundations of the Stadtmusikantenturm (Town Musician's Tower) date back to this period. Around the year 1337, St. Stephan's Church, in the middle of the fortified church, was elevated to a parish church. At this time, the town's cemetery was located within the fortified church. It was only dissolved in the 16th century and moved to the outskirts of the town. At the same time, the town hall, the rectory, and the village school were arranged around the fortified church. The church houses inside were storage rooms owned by the villagers. In times of war, the population retreated into the fortified church. In the 19th century, the fortified church lost its protective function. After a fire in 1873, the residents created a second access to the complex. In 1933, a first renovation was carried out. The fortified church is classified as a historical monument.

The fortified church surrounds the church on three sides. To the east, remnants of walls have been preserved, and to the south, the surrounding wall continues. To the west, on the inner wall, are the former teacher's residence and the old town hall. To the west rises the Stadtmusikantenturm, which today represents the most representative part of the castle.

The center of the fortified church is St. Stephan's Church. It has been the parish church of the Marktsteft community since the 14th century. In the 16th century, after 1527, the Margraves of Ansbach, as lords of the village, introduced the Reformation. In 1608, the existing bell tower was erected. The nave and choir were built between 1623 and 1625 during the Thirty Years' War. The church was built as a hall church and concludes to the east with a polygonal choir. The tower has a pointed spire and overtops the fortified church. It was formerly also used as a lookout tower. Inside, the church was designed in the 18th century in the so-called Margrave style. Above the mighty altar is the organ; originally, the 17th-century baptismal font stood in front of it.