Ellingen Residence

A castle has existed at the site at least since 1219. From then and for more than 400 years, it belonged to the Teutonic Order.{{cite web |url= http://www.museen-in-bayern.de/en/museums-in-bavaria/museumsearch/museen/museum/residenz-ellingen.html|title= Residenz Ellingen (Residence Ellingen)|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Landesstelle für die nichtstaatlichen Museen in Bayern|access-date= 13 September 2015|quote=}} As such, it was the residence of the territorial commander of the Bailiwick of Franconia, the wealthiest of the 13 provinces of the Teutonic Order. A number of both medieval and Renaissance buildings have occupied the site. In 1718-1721, the residence was transformed into the presently visible, Baroque palace by {{Interlanguage link multi|Karl Heinrich von Hornstein|de}} to designs by architect {{Interlanguage link multi|Franz Keller (architect)|de|3=Franz Keller (Baumeister)|lt=Franz Keller}}. In 1775, additional changes in Neoclassical style were made, to designs by architect {{Interlanguage link multi|Pierre Michel d’Ixnard|de}}.{{cite web |url= http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/ellingen.htm|title= Ellingen Residenz|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes|access-date= 13 September 2015|quote=}}{{cite web |url= http://www.ellingen-tourismus.de/index.php?pageID=73|title= Deutschordensschloss Ellingen|language=German|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Tourismus in Ellingen|access-date= 13 September 2015|quote=}}

In 1789, the seat of the residence of the Bailiwick of Franconia was moved to Bad Mergentheim, and a few years later the owner of the palace passed to the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was given as a gift in 1815 by the Bavarian king Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria to Field Marshal Karl Philipp von Wrede. The field marshal made a comprehensive re-furnishing of the palace.

The palace was bought by the State of Bavaria in 1939. Today, it is administered by the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes and open to the public through guided tours. The administration also rents out parts of the residence for larger events. The western wing houses {{Interlanguage link multi|Kulturzentrum Ostpreußen|de}}, a cultural centre dedicated to the history and culture of East Prussia.{{cite web |url= http://www.kulturzentrum-ostpreussen.de/|title= Kulturzentrum Ostpreußen in Ellingen/Bay.|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Kulturzentrum Ostpreußen|access-date= 13 September 2015|quote=}}

File:Ellingen Deutschordensschloss 449.jpg

The residence is built in a mixture of Baroque and Neoclassical. It consists of, notably, a church, princely suites, and an adjacent park. The church is Baroque, as are several of the interior details, such as the stucco work by {{Interlanguage link multi|Franz Joseph Roth|de}}, frescos, wall panelling and original floors. The building also contains some of the finest Neoclassical interiors in Bavaria, owing both to the work of d’Ixnard and the re-furnishing carried out during the ownership of Karl Philipp von Wrede. A park lies adjacent to the residence. Originally a formal, Baroque garden (depicted for the first time in 1726), it was transformed into a landscape garden during the 19th century. A few remaining Baroque architectural elements were destroyed during World War II; today, only a single balustrade remains from the Baroque garden.{{cite web |url= http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/garden/objects/ellingen.htm|title= Ellingen Park|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes|access-date= 13 September 2015|quote=}}

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• {{commons category-inline|Residenz Ellingen}}

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Category:Palaces in Bavaria

Category:Buildings and structures in Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen