A fortified church is a church that is built to serve a defensive role in times of war. Such churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls, battlements, and embrasures. Others, such as the Ávila Cathedral were incorporated into the town wall. Monastic communities, such as Solovki Monastery, are often surrounded by a wall, and some churches, such as St. Arbogast in Muttenz, Switzerland, have an outer wall as well. Churches with additional external defences such as curtain walls and wall towers are often referred to more specifically as fortress churches or Kirchenburgen.
Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer
Church of the Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos in the village of Sutkivci
Yett or iron-barred door at St Cuthbert's Church in Great Salkeld, Cumbria, guarding access to the tower.
Fortified church in Muttenz, Switzerland
Muttenz is a municipality with a population of approximately 17,000 in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It is located in the district of Arlesheim and next to the city of Basel.
Muttenz photographed from Wartenberg
Buildings in Muttenz near a tram stop
Au-Hard fortifications
Rangierbahnhof (Train Station)