Alexander Castle

The Town Hall in Neckarbischofsheim, in the Rhein-Neckar district of Baden-Württemberg, traces its origins back to the Alexander Castle of the Lords of Helmstatt. The building has been owned by the municipality since 1987.

The building was presumably constructed during the expansion of Bischofsheim to include the Hinterstadt in the late 15th century and was then located near the middle town gate. Alongside the Old Castle and the New Stone House (predecessor of the New Castle), the building was the third and youngest castle in the town. It was first mentioned as the inner castle in 1545, when Johann von Helmstatt, together with his father-in-law, the Palatine Hofmeister Philipp von Helmstatt (1496–1563), acquired the castle from Alexander II von Helmstatt († 1558). The later name Alexander Castle is attributed to this previous owner. Philipp von Helmstatt, who outlived his son-in-law, bequeathed the property to Christoph von Helmstatt. At that time, the two-winged building still included a cattle yard, barns, and stables. In the second half of the 16th century, various alterations were made to the buildings, with their dates found on doors and window frames.

During the Thirty Years' War, refugees were temporarily housed in the building. From the late 17th century, it served as an administrative building, later a domestic science school, then an agricultural school, and at times even a sales point and warehouse for the Raiffeisen cooperative. Around 1958, there were temporary plans to establish a kindergarten in the building. The municipality acquired Alexander Castle in 1987, subsequently renovated it, and has used it since 1997 as a replacement for the neighboring Old Town Hall.