Commandry of Mirow

The Commandery of Mirow is first mentioned in 1226 when Prince Heinrich Borwin II donated land to the Order of St. John. By 1242 at the latest, the settlement on Lake Mirow had developed into a full-fledged commandery. Over the centuries, the order significantly expanded its possessions through donations and acquisitions. Under the protection of the Lords of Werle, the influence of the Knights Hospitaller grew, but in the 16th century, the Dukes of Mecklenburg gained increasing control over the appointment of commanders. Following the death of Commander Liborius von Bredow in 1541, a power struggle over the commandery erupted, leading to lengthy legal disputes. Although the commandery was dissolved in 1552, conflicts over its ownership persisted until 1648, when the order's property was secularized and transformed into a ducal Mecklenburg administrative office.

The Commandery of Mirow is located in the town of Mirow, nestled within the Mecklenburg Lake District region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The site is situated at an elevation of approximately 60 meters above sea level.

The only surviving building from the commandery era is the Johanniterkirche, now known as the Schlosskirche (Palace Church). Originally a brick Gothic hall church from the 14th century, it has been extended and redesigned multiple times over the centuries. The original commandery house on Mirow Castle Island, which later served as a princely residence, was destroyed by a fire in the 18th century.

• Mirow Castle (Schloss, approx. 77 m away)
• Lower Castle (Schloss, approx. 228 m away)
• Retzow Castle (Schloss, approx. 5533 m away)
• Krümmel Manor House (Herren- und Gutshaus, approx. 5781 m away)