Work on the restoration of the former Palace of the Teutonic Order (Deutschordensschloss) in Mergentheim was begun in 1975. Following World War II, numerous structural alterations and use for other purposes almost nothing remained of the former baroque splendor. The original restoration program was changed several times, finally resulting in an extensive "large museum solution". The entire palace was to serve exclusively for museum purposes.
At first, following restoration of the entire roof in 1983/84, it was agreed that the interior of the palace be reconstructed in two steps. The first was completed in the fall of 1994 when the exhibition areas City History, Adelsheim Collection and Dollhouse Collection were turned over to the public. In the spring of 1996 the extensive work on the department on the history of the Teutonic Order were also completed.
The goal of restoration, which had cost 23.7 million marks (without the Palace Church) since 1989, was to preserve the traces of the palace's diverse past. Where changes from different historical phases have been preserved, "windows to history" point out the evidence of epochs gone by to visitors.
For example, the projections of the vault of the Gothic Chapter Building (Kapitelbau) or the Gothic window arcades of the Staufen "Palas" (residential and hall building) can be found along the walking tour. In the west wing decorative paintings with flower tendrils and medallions from the time around 1800 were restored. Two original sections in faded colors were preserved..
The ancient building held many a surprise in store for the experts. Four magnificent, surprisingly finely structured stucco ceilings in the Old Sovereign's Apartment (Alte Fürstenwohnung) from the first half of the 18th century were uncovered under up to 32 layers of paint from 250 years.