Greding - St. Martin

It is known, that in Greding iron ore was being processed already very early. Around 700 the area was an important production site for the metal weapons.

Karl Martell invaded Bavaria around 725 and around 750 Pippin placed the diocese of Eichstätt under Carolingian administration. Duke Tassilo III. from Bavaria was deposed by Charlemagne in 788 and Bavaria came under Frankish-Carolingian administration.
Around 900 Greding is a Franconian royal court, awarded by the Carolingians as a fief to the local Counts. After a feud between the Counts and the later Emperor Heinrich II in 1033 Greding came into the possession of the Bishop of Eichstätt. Under his influence, the erection of St. Martin starts.

The bottom five floors of the tower date from the 11th century. In the early Gothic period, the tower was raised by one floor. The similarity of the tower with that of the cathedral in Eichstätt is obvious. A smaller, single-nave church belonged to the tower.

The other parts of the Romanesque basilica were built in the middle of the 12th century.

During the secularization, the church was sold to a farmer who used it as a stable and barn. The wall was whitewashed with lime. In 1826 it was purchased back and the church got renovated again. In the early 20th century, the murals under the lime layer were exposed.

The large St. Christophorus was created around 1370. Note the little mermaid between his legs.