Buttendorf

The first document mentioning the two vassals Gernot and Rudolf of Buttendorf and thus the place Buttendorf as well can be dated to the year 1132.
However, it can be assumed that the origins of the village reach further back in history, probably around the year 700 as the ending "-dorf", which is typical for places of that time, indicates. Gernot and Rudolf of Buttendorf were members of the house of Leonrod and had gained their enormous land as royal feoffs for being two of the king's administrators responsible for the new acquired land.

Hans of Buttendorf seems to be the last of the house of Leonrod before it died out. Two members of this house are buried in the Minster of Heilsbronn.

The residence of the lords of Buttendorf is no longer existent. The last remains of the former fort were used for the building of a barn in 1857.

St. Ägidius and St. Jakobus Church

	St. Jakobus Church

The construction-history of the small village church dedicated to St. Ägidius and St. Jakobus is completely unknown, and it was not mentioned in any records until 1414. In the course of time the church was repeatedly in severe danger of decay and finally in 1779, it was no more than a ruin.

The people's attempts to renovate their church were fortunately supported by the local count of the march, whose efforts were later honoured by an inscription in the church. Further renovations followed in 1851, 1957 and 1993.

The hall is unadorned, almost square-shaped, with a cross vault. The choir shows a medieval altar, a former second altar was later used as basis for the pulpit. The only artistic decoration is the sculpture of Mary from about 1500, which had probably been part of a previous shrine altar.

Simone Steinheimer