Templar House Külsheim

The so-called Templar House, located on the outskirts of the old town area, on the main road to Tauberbischofsheim, is characterized by strong surrounding walls made of quarry stone, dating from the second half of the 14th century.

Its plastered facades are structured by tall, rectangular window frames, predominantly crafted from red sandstone. The framed surrounds on the upper floor and in the gables largely originate from the time of its construction.

The Templar House is likely a former gatekeeper's house. Corbel stones and a bricked-up door opening on the courtyard side indicate the existence of a wooden walkway connecting to the formerly adjacent city wall and the city gate, which was demolished around 1890. The house residents were thus tasked with guarding and defending the city.

Between 1590 and 1594, a major renovation took place. A vaulted cellar was built underneath, and the archway, extending the street facade, was created. At that time, the two decoratively profiled window frames on the ground floor, bearing the year "1590", and the roof structure, dated 1593 and predominantly timbered from oak, were also created.

By 1594, as a recently discovered inscription inside reveals, the interior painting, commissioned by the owner, the Archbishopric of Mainz, was also completed. Red ochre-colored facade plaster with red-framed surrounds from this period has also been identified.

The cellar archway from 1760, as well as the baroque stucco ceilings and wainscoting on the ground floor, finally stem from the last ambitious partial renovation of the house.

After a longer period of vacancy, the city of Külsheim purchased the property in 2002, which – listed in the Baden directory of architectural monuments since 1930 – is considered a cultural monument of particular importance. After extensive renovation, the Külsheim city library is now housed in this building.