From the History of Horneck Castle

ca. 1254

Konrad von Horneck donated his castle, which is situated on the river Neckar high above the town of Gundelsheim, to the Teutonic Order. He was the first commander of Horneck.

1425

Horneck became the residence of the German Master for about one hundred years, and was thus the third most important seat of the Order after Marienburg/Malbork and Königsberg/Kaliningrad.

1525

The castle was destroyed during the Peasant War. Götz von Berlichingen participated in its destruction.

 

1525–1533

A Renaissance building was errected on the site of the castle. It was later visited by the emperors Karl V. and Ferdinand II.

1724–1728

The castle was rebuilt in Baroque style.

1809

Napoleon Bonaparte transfers the possession of the Teutonic Order to the Kingdom of Württemberg.

 

1824

The castle was privatised.

 

1873

Wilhelm Würth bought the castle. It became the Castle Brewery Hornegg.

1890 – 1896

The castle was refurbished in Art Nouveau style and became a sanatorium.

1899–1938

Dr. Ludwig Roemheld was the medical director of the sanatorium in the castle. One of the shareholders was the Heilbronn soup extract manufacturer Karl Knorr. High nobility such as Queen Charlotte of Württemberg, film stars such as Gustav Gründgens and Marianne Hoppe, mountaineer Luis Trenker and boxing world champion Max Schmeling were spa guests.

 

1946

A TB sanatorium was set up in the castle.

 

1960

Acquisition of Horneck Castle by the charitable organisation Johannes Honterus, founded by Transylvanian Saxons. A nursing home for the elderly was run here by the organisation until 2015. Rooms for the museum and library were also provided. The opportunity was taken to organise and expand their collections and develop them into the most important Transylvanian cultural institutions outside Romania: the Transylvanian Institute with Library and Archive and the Transylvanian Museum.

 

 

2015

After the dissolution of the Johannes Honterus Association, an overwhelming fundraising campaign organised by the Transylvanian Saxons made it possible for the new charitable organisation Transylvanian Heritage and Community Centre Horneck Castle to purchase the castle, thus ensuring the continuation of the Transylvanian Museum and Institute.