Ellingen Residence

Ellingen, Germany

Ellingen belonged to the Teutonic Order from 1216 onwards and was the Residence of the Territorial Commander of the Bailiwick of Franconia. This was the most powerful bailiwick in the Teutonic Order, and the small town of Ellingen thus represented the centre of a far-reaching territorial and economic power.

At the time when today’s palace was built, however, the Teutonic Order had already become a charitable institution for the lower aristocracy. The site of today’s palace was previously occupied by various medieval buildings, as well as a highly prestigious Renaissance building. Starting in 1708, the present palace grounds were built and the late Gothic church was converted to the Baroque style. The vast main building was built by the architect Franz Keller from 1718 to 1720.

Of the interior decorations, the ceiling frescos, wall panelling, floors and above all the stucco work by Franz Joseph Roth have survived. The colonnade in the inner courtyard is part of the conversion work carried out by French architect Michel d’Ixnard and was newly erected around 1775.

In 1789, the seat of the Bailiwick of Franconia was moved to Bad Mergenheim. This effectively closed the history of Ellingen Palace as the Residence of the Teutonic Order. A few years later, the Order was almost completely dissolved and ownership of Ellingen passed to the Kingdom of Bavaria. In 1815, King Max I Joseph presented the palace to his outstanding field-marshal, Carl Philipp, Prince of Wrede, who had several rows of rooms newly decorated with enormously expensive silk and paper wallpapers, furniture, glass and bronzes from Paris. Together with the stucco work and furniture by Michel d’Ixnard, these rooms are now among the most important interior design works dating from the Classicist period in Bavaria.

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Details

Founded: 1708-1720
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)

More Information

www.schloesser.bayern.de

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

david antoun (16 months ago)
a medieval castle from 13th century related to german crusaders' order. the now seen building is dated to the 18th century, baroque style. many renovations took place after 1945 but you can see many well preserved ceilings paintings, furniture... the entrance is only allowed with a guide, photos is allowed and it consists of two floors with many rooms to see. an english garden is behind with colourful blue flowers especially in easter period.
The Great Gatsby (18 months ago)
I visited the Ellingen Residence (or Palace), a historic building that was once the seat of the Teutonic Order. It is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture, with a magnificent courtyard and a splendid chapel. The residence also hosts a museum that displays various artifacts and paintings related to the history of the order and the region. I enjoyed learning about the fascinating stories and legends that surround this place, such as the mysterious Knights of the Swan and the secret tunnels that connect the residence to other buildings in the town. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the admission fee was reasonable. I highly recommend visiting this place if you are interested in history, culture, or just looking for a relaxing day out.
D. H. (2 years ago)
Magnificent palace with exception interior, in a delightful baroque town.
Klaas Neumann (2 years ago)
Beautyful place, good beer and Restaurant, very well preserved, good castle tour
1stTime2nd-Rallyesport (2 years ago)
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