Bergkirche, Church building in Gründau, Germany

The Bergkirche sits on Schieferberg hill with a sturdy western tower and displays classical architectural elements from its 1840 construction. Inside, a remarkable Ratzmann organ built in 1839 by Georg Franz Ratzmann and his son Wilhelm August maintains its original sound quality.

A church on the Schieferberg was first documented on 15 August 1217 as a parish church belonging to Selbold Monastery, and Countess Gisela had founded it before 1170. The Gothic west tower was rebuilt in 1556/1557 and consecrated on 15 October 1557. The classicist nave was built from 5 March 1838 and consecrated on 8 November 1840, replacing a medieval predecessor.

The church was the seat of the Gründau cent court, first recorded in 1260 as "iudicio Grindaha", and its parish once covered Gettenbach, Lieblos, Mittelgründau, Niedergründau, Roth, Rothenbergen and the lost village of Rodenborn. The building stands on the Via Regia, the old imperial road from Frankfurt to Leipzig, which also served as a Jakobsweg; a scallop shell marks the pilgrim route today.

The hilltop location offers clear visibility from much of the surrounding area, making it easy to spot and navigate to. The classical design and elevated position mean the building is accessible and straightforward to find.

Excavations in 1998 uncovered the outlines of the previous church's choir beneath the current structure. This discovery demonstrates that worshippers gathered at this spot for generations before the present building was constructed.