After my pilgrimage to the grave of Walther von der Vogelweide I caught the afternoon train to Bad Mergentheim, an hour’s ride through hills covered with vineyards.


Vineyards on the way to Bad Mergentheim
Bad Mergentheim is currently a small resort town centered around a famous spa featuring water from the local mineral springs.



Main Square of Bad Mergentheim
From 1525 to 1809 Bad Mergentheim was, as you probably know, the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights. The old Teutonic Knights headquarters takes up the greater part of the downtown area.


Entrance to the Teutonic Knights Complex
The main castle of the headquarters now serves as a museum.


Castle of the Teutonic Knights Complex
The church connected to the castle was designed by the ubiquitous Balthazar Neumann, who also built the Residenz and the Kappele in Wurzburg.


Castle Church