Basilika Altenkrempe, Medieval brick church in Altenkrempe, Germany

Basilika Altenkrempe is a three-aisled brick church combining Romanesque and Gothic features with interior elements that developed over centuries. The structure is built entirely of brick and shapes the visual character of the village with its solid form.

The start of construction is not documented; similarities to Ratzeburg Cathedral and the use of brick point to the early 13th century for the first building phase. Differences in execution show that choir and nave were built some time apart. The basilica is regarded as the architectural model for St. Nicholas Church in Mölln. A legend tells of three maidens at Rathjensdorf castle who had this church, and those at Neukirchen and Grube, built.

The name Altenkrempe means "old Krempe", distinguishing the village from the newer Krempe; the church served the older settlement. A local legend tells of three maidens living in the castle at Rathjensdorf who had this church built along with those at Neukirchen and Grube. The 13th-century bronze font, unique in Schleswig-Holstein in its goblet shape, remains in use for baptisms.

The west facade is dominated by a tower with gabled sides, a tent roof, small window openings and a multi-stepped round-arched portal; this is the entrance side to look for. Inside, the three bays with alternating supports stand on a square ground plan, and the longitudinal view already shows pointed arches. The choir ends in a semi-circular apse narrower than the nave.

The building preserves a bronze baptismal font from the 13th century and numerous epitaphs reaching into the 18th century. This collection tells the story of generations who lived here and left their memories in stone and metal.