Since administrative reform in the 1970s the following villages have been part of the municipality: Althausen (pop. 600), Apfelbach (350), Dainbach (370), Edelfingen (1,400; birthplace of the American biochemist Julius Adler), Hachtel (360), Herbsthausen (200), Löffelstelzen (1,000), Markelsheim (2,000), Neunkirchen (1,000), Rengershausen (480), Rot (260), Stuppach (680), Wachbach (1,300)
History
Mergentheim is mentioned in chronicles as early as 1058, as the residence of the family of the counts of Hohenlohe. The brothers Andreas, Heinrich and Friedrich von Hohenlohe joined the Deutscher Orden (Teutonic Order) in 1219 and gave their two castles near Mergentheim to the order. One was abandoned, the other became the seat of the local Komtur (commander) of the order.
Following the order's conquest of East Prussia and part of Livland in the 1230s, in 1309 the Grand Master of the order moved to the Marienburg. In 1340 Mergentheim was awarded town privileges. It rapidly became the most important of the eleven commanderies of the Teutonic Order. The Deutschmeister, highest ranking member inside the Holy Roman Empire (to which Prussia did not belong), moved his seat to Mergentheim in 1525 after his castle at Hornberg/Neckar had been destroyed by peasants. That same year, Grand Master Albrecht von Zollern-Brandenburg resigned his position, left the order, introduced Reformation, married and – supported by his liege lord the King of Poland – turned the order's eastern territories into a temporal duchy. The rulers of the order in Germany, now styling themselves Hoch- und Deutschmeister, then made Mergentheim the order's new headquarters and expanded the castle into a palatial residence.
Over the next centuries, the town served as the centre of the order's southern German territories much like the residence town of any ruling prince. Some grand masters, like Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (1614–62), who in his 21 years in that role never once set foot in the town, were hardly ever present. Others, like Maximilian Franz (1756-1801), a son of Maria Theresa, loved the place. For the order's general chapter in 1791 he brought the orchestra of the Archbishopric of Cologne, including one Ludwig van Beethoven on viola. Mergentheim retained this role until the dissolution of the order in the countries of the Rheinbund in 1809 by Napoleon.[3][4]: 114
Mergentheim's fortunes declined after that but were reversed in 1826, when a shepherd by the name of Franz Gehring discovered rich mineral springs in the surrounding area, during the time when spas were expanding in Germany at a rapid pace. The water turned out to be the strongest sodium-sulfate water in Europe, reportedly effective for the treatment of digestive disorders.
In the 1970s during the Gemeindereform (administrative reform) several neighbouring villages were incorporated into the municipality.
The old town hall and market place in Bad Mergentheim
The Wolfgang chapel and stone bridge over the Tauber
The best-known sight of Bad Mergentheim is the Deutschordensschloss, the castle where the Teutonic Knights once had their home base. It is a complex of buildings built over a period of eight hundred years. The first buildings of the castle were probably erected as early as the 12th century. The castle was expanded in the late 16th century under Grand Master Walther von Cronberg. Over the course of time a representative Renaissance complex was built by connecting the individual buildings in the inner palace courtyard to a closed ring of buildings. In 1574, the main architect, Blasius Berwart [de], also constructed the spiral staircase between the west and north wing. Today the castle houses the Deutschordensmuseum (museum of the Teutonic Order).
The English landscape garden between palace and spa building is mainly due to Archduke Maximilian Franz. In 1797, he had a "mosque" built there to recall the past Turkish threat and in 1802 the Schellenhäusle, a late Chinoiserie. The obelisk was built under Duke Paul von Württemberg, a memorial for a dog that saved his life on one of his expeditions.[4]: 115
The castle complex is dominated by the Schlosskirche (palace church), begun in 1730 under Franz Ludwig Herzog von Pfalz-Neuburg in Baroque style. It was finished in 1735 under Clemens August von Wittelsbach. The plans for the interior were drawn up by François de Cuvilliés, the Electoral court architect of Cologne. Architects working on site were Joseph Roth and Friedrich Kirchenmayer. Its Rococo interior features elaborate ceiling frescos by the court painter Nikolaus Gottfried Stuber [de], depicting The Defense of Faith, the Glorification of the Cross in Heaven and on Earth and the Emperor Constantine's Vision of the Cross. The main altar painting is Die Salbung Jesu durch Maria in Bethanien by local painter Matthäus Zehender [de]. Side altar paintings were by Giambattista Pittoni (Kreuzaufnahme, Armenspeisung durch die heilige Elisabeth). The crypt below the church is the burial site of the order's grand masters.[4]: 115 For around 200 years the Schlosskirche has been a Protestant church.
Other sights
The sacristy of the Marienkirche (finished in 1388) features frescos made in 1300-10 by the monk Rudolfus. This was formerly the church of a Dominican monastery. The cloister has a fresco from 1486 showing a Visitation that depicts an embryo inside the body of Mary. The church also contains the epitaph of Walther von Cronberg, the first Mergentheim Grand Master. Modelled in 1539, probably by Hans Vischer, it was taken to Monrepos at Ludwigsburg in 1809, when Mergentheim became part of the Kingdom of Württemberg. In 1853, the statue was restored to this church.[4]: 115
^Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse, Staatsanzeiger, accessed 13 September 2021.
^ "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2021" [Population by nationality and sex as of December 31, 2021] (CSV) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg. June 2022.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mergentheim". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 164.. Additional citations: Höring, Das Karlsbad bei Mergentheim (Mergentheim 1887); and Schmitt, Garnisongeschichte der Stadt Mergentheim (Stuttgart, 1895).
^ abcdDettelbacher, Werner (1974). Franken - Kunst, Geschichte und Landschaft (German). Dumont Verlag. ISBN3-7701-0746-2.
^. List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bad Mergentheim.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bad Mergentheim.
February 05, 2023
mergentheim, german, baːt, ˈmɛʁɡn, thaɪm, listen, mergentheim, until, 1926, east, franconian, märchedol, town, main, tauber, kreis, district, german, state, baden, württemberg, population, around, officially, recognized, town, since, 1926, also, known, headqua. Bad Mergentheim German baːt ˈmɛʁɡn thaɪm listen Mergentheim until 1926 East Franconian Marchedol is a town in the Main Tauber Kreis district in the German state of Baden Wurttemberg It has a population of around 23 000 An officially recognized spa town since 1926 Bad Mergentheim is also known as the headquarters of the Teutonic Order from 1526 until 1809 Bad MergentheimTownAerial Photo of Bad MergentheimCoat of armsLocation of Bad Mergentheim within Main Tauber Kreis districtBad MergentheimShow map of GermanyBad MergentheimShow map of Baden WurttembergCoordinates 49 30 N 9 46 E 49 500 N 9 767 E 49 500 9 767 Coordinates 49 30 N 9 46 E 49 500 N 9 767 E 49 500 9 767CountryGermanyStateBaden WurttembergAdmin regionStuttgartDistrictMain Tauber KreisSubdivisionsKernstadt and 13 StadtteileGovernment Lord mayor 2019 27 Udo Glatthaar 1 CDU Area Total129 97 km2 50 18 sq mi Elevation206 m 676 ft Population 2021 12 31 2 Total24 247 Density190 km2 480 sq mi Time zoneUTC 01 00 CET Summer DST UTC 02 00 CEST Postal codes97980Dialling codes07931 primarily 07930 07932 07937 07938 boroughs Vehicle registrationTBB MGHWebsitewww bad mergentheim de Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Subdivisions 2 History 3 Arts and culture 3 1 Attractions 3 1 1 Mergentheim Palace 3 1 2 Other sights 4 Demographics 5 Governance 5 1 Town twinning 6 Infrastructure 7 Notable people 8 See also 9 ReferencesGeography EditSubdivisions Edit Since administrative reform in the 1970s the following villages have been part of the municipality Althausen pop 600 Apfelbach 350 Dainbach 370 Edelfingen 1 400 birthplace of the American biochemist Julius Adler Hachtel 360 Herbsthausen 200 Loffelstelzen 1 000 Markelsheim 2 000 Neunkirchen 1 000 Rengershausen 480 Rot 260 Stuppach 680 Wachbach 1 300 History EditMergentheim is mentioned in chronicles as early as 1058 as the residence of the family of the counts of Hohenlohe The brothers Andreas Heinrich and Friedrich von Hohenlohe joined the Deutscher Orden Teutonic Order in 1219 and gave their two castles near Mergentheim to the order One was abandoned the other became the seat of the local Komtur commander of the order Following the order s conquest of East Prussia and part of Livland in the 1230s in 1309 the Grand Master of the order moved to the Marienburg In 1340 Mergentheim was awarded town privileges It rapidly became the most important of the eleven commanderies of the Teutonic Order The Deutschmeister highest ranking member inside the Holy Roman Empire to which Prussia did not belong moved his seat to Mergentheim in 1525 after his castle at Hornberg Neckar had been destroyed by peasants That same year Grand Master Albrecht von Zollern Brandenburg resigned his position left the order introduced Reformation married and supported by his liege lord the King of Poland turned the order s eastern territories into a temporal duchy The rulers of the order in Germany now styling themselves Hoch und Deutschmeister then made Mergentheim the order s new headquarters and expanded the castle into a palatial residence Over the next centuries the town served as the centre of the order s southern German territories much like the residence town of any ruling prince Some grand masters like Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614 62 who in his 21 years in that role never once set foot in the town were hardly ever present Others like Maximilian Franz 1756 1801 a son of Maria Theresa loved the place For the order s general chapter in 1791 he brought the orchestra of the Archbishopric of Cologne including one Ludwig van Beethoven on viola Mergentheim retained this role until the dissolution of the order in the countries of the Rheinbund in 1809 by Napoleon 3 4 114 Mergentheim s fortunes declined after that but were reversed in 1826 when a shepherd by the name of Franz Gehring discovered rich mineral springs in the surrounding area during the time when spas were expanding in Germany at a rapid pace The water turned out to be the strongest sodium sulfate water in Europe reportedly effective for the treatment of digestive disorders In the 1970s during the Gemeindereform administrative reform several neighbouring villages were incorporated into the municipality Arts and culture EditAttractions Edit Mergentheim Palace Edit Main article Mergentheim Palace The towers of Bad Mergentheim The old town hall and market place in Bad Mergentheim The Wolfgang chapel and stone bridge over the Tauber The best known sight of Bad Mergentheim is the Deutschordensschloss the castle where the Teutonic Knights once had their home base It is a complex of buildings built over a period of eight hundred years The first buildings of the castle were probably erected as early as the 12th century The castle was expanded in the late 16th century under Grand Master Walther von Cronberg Over the course of time a representative Renaissance complex was built by connecting the individual buildings in the inner palace courtyard to a closed ring of buildings In 1574 the main architect Blasius Berwart de also constructed the spiral staircase between the west and north wing Today the castle houses the Deutschordensmuseum museum of the Teutonic Order The English landscape garden between palace and spa building is mainly due to Archduke Maximilian Franz In 1797 he had a mosque built there to recall the past Turkish threat and in 1802 the Schellenhausle a late Chinoiserie The obelisk was built under Duke Paul von Wurttemberg a memorial for a dog that saved his life on one of his expeditions 4 115 The castle complex is dominated by the Schlosskirche palace church begun in 1730 under Franz Ludwig Herzog von Pfalz Neuburg in Baroque style It was finished in 1735 under Clemens August von Wittelsbach The plans for the interior were drawn up by Francois de Cuvillies the Electoral court architect of Cologne Architects working on site were Joseph Roth and Friedrich Kirchenmayer Its Rococo interior features elaborate ceiling frescos by the court painter Nikolaus Gottfried Stuber de depicting The Defense of Faith the Glorification of the Cross in Heaven and on Earth and the Emperor Constantine s Vision of the Cross The main altar painting is Die Salbung Jesu durch Maria in Bethanien by local painter Matthaus Zehender de Side altar paintings were by Giambattista Pittoni Kreuzaufnahme Armenspeisung durch die heilige Elisabeth The crypt below the church is the burial site of the order s grand masters 4 115 For around 200 years the Schlosskirche has been a Protestant church Other sights Edit The sacristy of the Marienkirche finished in 1388 features frescos made in 1300 10 by the monk Rudolfus This was formerly the church of a Dominican monastery The cloister has a fresco from 1486 showing a Visitation that depicts an embryo inside the body of Mary The church also contains the epitaph of Walther von Cronberg the first Mergentheim Grand Master Modelled in 1539 probably by Hans Vischer it was taken to Monrepos at Ludwigsburg in 1809 when Mergentheim became part of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg In 1853 the statue was restored to this church 4 115 Demographics EditYear Population1660 1 0641855 2 9171900 4 3721933 6 1911945 9 3001950 10 1841961 11 6081975 19 8951990 21 5672005 22 4862013 22 470Governance EditTown twinning Edit See also List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany Bad Mergentheim is twinned with Digne les Bains France Sainte Marie du Mont Manche France Fuefuki Yamanashi Japan 5 Borgomanero ItalyInfrastructure EditLoffelstelzen Transmitter German Diabetes Center MergentheimNotable people Edit Johann Friedrich Mayer 1793 Heinrich von Hohenlohe died 1249 buried in the church in Mergentheim Johann Friedrich Mayer agriculturist 1719 1798 priest and agricultural reformer Plaster Apostle Ludwig van Beethoven 1770 1827 was viola player in the court s musical establishment of the Hochmeister Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights Maximilian Franz of Austria in 1791 Hermann Bauer de 1814 1872 Protestant pastor and Wurttemberg local historian Eduard Morike 1804 1875 German poet lived in Mergentheim from 1844 1851 Fritz Keller 1850 1923 member of parliament president of the Wurttemberg Forest Office Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf 1852 1925 Austro Hungarian Field Marshall from 1871 1918 died in Mergentheim Ottmar Mergenthaler Ottmar Mergenthaler 1854 1899 inventor of the Linotype 6 Edvard Hjelt 1855 1921 Finnish chemist and politician died in Mergentheim Felix Fechenbach 1894 1933 German Jewish journalist poet and political activist who was murdered by the Nazis Gudrun Mebs de born 1944 writer children s and youth book author Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 1984 Barbara Stamm born 1944 politician CSU President of the Bavarian Parliament Fritz Kuhn born 1955 mayor of Stuttgart former Member of Parliament and former national chairman of the Greens Jurgen Koch de born 1963 cook awarded one star in the Michelin Martin Lanig born 1984 football player Carolin Golubytskyi born 1985 foil fencer Atilla Yildirim born 1990 Dutch Turkish football player Florian Ruck born 1992 football player Valentin Kluss born 2007 racing driverSee also EditWildpark Bad MergentheimReferences Edit Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse Staatsanzeiger accessed 13 September 2021 Bevolkerung nach Nationalitat und Geschlecht am 31 Dezember 2021 Population by nationality and sex as of December 31 2021 CSV in German Statistisches Landesamt Baden Wurttemberg June 2022 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Mergentheim Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 18 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 164 Additional citations Horing Das Karlsbad bei Mergentheim Mergentheim 1887 and Schmitt Garnisongeschichte der Stadt Mergentheim Stuttgart 1895 a b c d Dettelbacher Werner 1974 Franken Kunst Geschichte und Landschaft German Dumont Verlag ISBN 3 7701 0746 2 International Exchange List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures Council of Local Authorities for International Relations CLAIR Archived from the original on 5 February 2016 Retrieved 21 November 2015 Who Was Who in America Historical Volume 1607 1896 Chicago Marquis Who s Who 1963 Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bad Mergentheim Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bad Mergentheim Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bad Mergentheim amp oldid 1123193055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
