Marienmünster

Initially established as a subsidiary of St. Walburga and Nikolaus in Beyerberg, the Marienmünster attained the status of an independent parish in the second half of the 14th century. It included the subsidiary churches of St. Katharina in Bechhofen and St. Georg in Sachsbach. Over the centuries, patronage shifted from the Lords of Pappenheim to the Lords of Seckendorff, and eventually to the Prince-Bishopric of Eichstätt. Until the Reformation, introduced in Königshofen in 1565, the Marienmünster was a frequently visited pilgrimage church. The current late Gothic structure, built from sandstone ashlar, also originated in the second half of the 14th century. A fire in 1632 caused severe damage, which was only fully repaired by 1723, during which time the church was reconfigured into a basilica. A lightning strike in 1788 severely damaged the north tower, which was completely removed in 1810 and 1868 to make way for a sacristy. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1956/57.

The Marienmünster is situated in Königshofen an der Heide, a district of Ansbach in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany. The church is nestled within the rural surroundings of the Ansbach region.

Today, the Marienmünster serves as an Evangelical-Lutheran parish church. The Königshofen parish encompasses several surrounding villages. The church is protected as an architectural monument in Bavaria and, following extensive restorations, is presented in a well-maintained condition.

• Seckendorffsches Schloss (Castle, approx. 1536 m away)
• Burgrest Arberg (Castle ruin, approx. 5849 m away)
• Schloss Sommersdorf (Castle, approx. 7035 m away)
• Römischer Wachturm 13/24 (Ancient structures, approx. 7286 m away)