The first stop is the Evangelical Church in LEGELSHURST. You can view this church from the outside. Look out for the coat of arms above the side entrance. It was added in MDCCXLIII, the year the church was built. The Hanau-Lichtenberg sovereign Ludwig attached great importance to it, although the parish had not requested it. Have you noticed that the church spire is slightly askew?
Continue on to LINX. This church, enclosed by a listed wall with original archways, is usually open. Inside, art from various periods awaits us, including a split cross. More information in the church.
HAUSGEREUT is one of the two original choir tower churches that can still be admired in its original size. If it can be arranged, stop off here at lunchtime, as the bell is rung by hand at 12.00 noon. Scenes from the life of St Nicholas can be seen in the choir room. Perhaps you will recognise one or two legends.
RHEINBISCHOFSHEIM is the great exception: the "cathedral" of the Hanauerland. This church is a contrast to the choir tower churches on this route. The size alone is impressive and the interior appears almost round as an octagonal building. There are some old gravestones on the outer walls and a memorial stone to the left of the entrance commemorates the deportation of the Jewish population to Gurs on 22 October 1940.
By FREISTETT, we have covered almost half of the route. Niederfreistett is home to the second original choir tower church. It is also dedicated to St Nicholas. Colloquially, however, the name HEIDENKIRCHEL has become established. The term "heathen" does not refer to "unchristian" or "pre-Christian", but rather to the fact that it is a very old church. In fact, a beam that is around a thousand years old was discovered during renovation work. Step inside and let your eyes slowly adjust to the dim light. A banner runs around the nave just below the ceiling. It begins on the front wall on the left above the chancel arch. Two verses from the New Testament: "The light shines" and the promise of Jesus Christ to accompany people every day. Complete the second verse in your mind and perhaps you will discover a bridge to the banner that now begins again. The two modern stained glass windows in the choir depict the baptism of Jesus and the Pentecost event. Nearby, a small rest area invites you to take a break. We have reached the "apex" of our tour.
Along the Rhine and through the Rhine meadows to DIERSHEIM to the Holy Trinity Church. It was built at a similar time to the church in Legelshurst. The Luther rose has been added as a decorative element to indicate that it is a Protestant place of worship. It is clearly visible from everywhere and yet is somewhat hidden.
Continue along the road southwards to HONAU (here a Catholic church) and from there on to LEUTESHEIM, where there is again a large princely coat of arms above the side entrance, revealing the year 1740 on the occasion of an extension. The interior of this church was tastefully redesigned in 2017. We can marvel at it from the outside (except during church services).
The church in BODERSWEIER is also only open for services. Here, too, it is worth taking a look at the impressive coat of arms. With the year 1616 above the main portal, it tells us that it was built during the reign of Count Johann Reinhard I. The interior was remodelled for its 400th anniversary.
The destination of our tour is KORK. Here we reach another railway stop. Before that, however, it is worth taking a look at the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and its courtyard. In 2017, a walk-through labyrinth was set into the ground here, modelled on the one in Chartres.
The Protestant church stands in the centre of the village. The entrance doors are a source of guesswork and amazement. Those who know music can discover a famous composer on the side door and on the main door we encounter symbols that we have already seen in the large church in Rheinbischofsheim.
