Deutschordens Castle Münnerstadt

The castle was built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order. A first documentary mention dates from 1257. The parish of the city was transferred to the Order by Count Poppo VII. It can therefore be assumed that the castle was built in the period from 1230-1257. Already in 1353, the city was divided and the Teutonic Order lost part of its possessions. However, the Teutonic Order Castle presumably was not part of this, as it was demonstrably used as a monastery until the 19th century. During the 18th century, there were even extensive renovation measures that transformed the castle into a ring complex. By 1802 at the latest, with the secularization, the castle left the possession of the Order and passed to the Kingdom of Bavaria. This established a financial authority here in 1832. After the end of the Empire, first the National Socialists used the castle, then a liquor factory. Towards the end of the 1960s, the city finally bought the Teutonic Order Castle and renovated it. Today, the Henneberg Museum is housed in the building.