DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Hessen	Hesse
Regierungsbezirk: Darmstadt
Kreis: Vogelsbergkreis

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Schlitz is situated at an elevation of 245 m on the river of the same name shortly before its confluence with the river Fulda. The municipality has a populaton of about 9,700 (2017).

The earliest known written document mentioning Schlitz dates from AD 812. During the Middle Ages, the domains of the lords of Schlitz were a fief of Fulda abbey. After the Reformation (1546) and the end of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), the lords broke away from the suzerainty of Fulda. The lords were styled Imperial barons in 1677 and Imperial counts in 1726. In 1806 the county was mediatised and became part of the grand Duchy of Hesse. Neighbouring communities were incorporated into the municipality in 1969 (Hutzdorf), 1971 (Bernshausen, Fraurombach, Hemmen, Nieder-Stoll, Ober-Wegfurth, Pforth, Queck, Rimbach, Sandlofs, Üllershausen, Ützhausen, Unterwegfurth and Willofs) and 1972 (Hartershausen and Unter-Schwarz).

The Protestant town church [centre] goes back to a first church, a Romanesque basilica, which was dedicated in AD 812. The basilica was enlarged in the second half of the 11th century by the addition of a transept and a tower on its eastern end, both of which were heightened in the 12th century. A choir, a sacristy and a crypt were added in the 13th century. Further enlargements were ceated in the 14th, 16th and 17th century.

The Hinterburg ('rear castle') with the Hinterturm ('rear tower') [right] is one of the five castles of Schlitz. The castle was first mentioned in 1493. Rebuilt in 1561–1565 and remodeled in 1647 it was used as a seniors residence between 1950 and 2015. Since 2017 it houses a residential complex and a hall for public events. The tower (36 metres high) was built in the 14th century. Since the 17th century it was topped by a Baroque slated roof, which in 1906 was replaced by a stone roof. During the advent season, the tower is wrapped in a red cloth, its roof is decorated with several hundred light bulbs; its popular nickname thus is 'the world's tallest Christmas candle'.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlitz_(Vogelsbergkreis); https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadtkirche_Schlitz; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterburg_(Schlitz)]