1058 |
"Mergintaim" is mentioned for the first time in a document |
12.Jahrhundert |
The existing Old Fortress (Alte Veste) is expanded to a water-surrounded castle |
1219 |
The Hohenlohe family gives its property to the Teutonic Order (Deutscher Orden) as a gift |
1255 |
The Castle Chapel (Burgkapelle) in the east and the "Palas" in the south are built |
1339 |
The water-surrounded castle is expanded by adding another castle building, the outer palace courtyard with motes, new access roads and gates, in front of it. The Horn Tower (Bläserturm) and the Chapter Hall (Kapitelsaal) in the west wing are also built |
1527-1809 |
Mergentheim becomes the headquarters of the Teutonic Order in the Southwest following the destruction of Horneck Castle in the Peasants' War |
1568-1628 |
The water-surrounded castle is expanded to a representative Renaissance palace |
1574 |
The Berwart staircase is built between the west and south wing |
1730-1799 |
The palace is partially rebuilt in the style of the Baroque |
1730-1736 |
A new, larger Palace Church (Schlosskirche) is built according to plans by Joseph Roth |
1797-1799 |
The main staircase is built between the Main Portal Tower (Hauptportalturm) and the north wing |
nach 1809 |
The Teutonic Order is disbanded by Napoleon and is refounded as the Teutonic Knights (Deutschen Ritterorden), which is now only Catholic and converts to an ecclesiastical-clerical order in the 20th century The palace serves various purposes, e.g. as a barracks, emergency housing, school, factory, administrative buildings and an archives |
1927 |
The expanded Municipal Collection of Antiquities" (Städtische Altertumssammlung), founded in 1864 by Baron von Adelsheim, finds its place in the palace |
1956 |
The former Chapter Hall is restored and used for cultural events |
1961-1969 |
A Museum of the Teutonic Order (Deutschordensmuseum) which focuses on the palace's use as a residence, is established in the south wing Mergentheim |
1973 |
After being restructured and expanded for four years, the collection on exhibition is reopened under the name Museum of the Teutonic Order |
1975-1996 |
Comprehensive restorations and extensions are made. Since 1991 the supporting organization of the museum has been a limited liability company |