It is one of the largest cities in the Tauber Valley, along with Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It has 23,000 inhabitants.

Between 1525 and 1809, it was the seat of the Grand Masters who commanded the Teutonic Knights.

The Hohenlohe family was very powerful in this region for many centuries, and three brothers from this family joined the Order in 1220. They donated their share of their father's lands, thus beginning one of the most powerful Teutonic commands in the Holy Roman Empire. From 1244 to 1250, Heinrich von Hohenlohe was Grand Master of the Order. The old Hohenlohe castle, from the 12th century, is open to visitors. It was renovated in 1565 and is magnificent.

Napoleon extinguished the Teutonic Knights in 1809, but the organization survives to this day and is headquartered in Vienna.

The Teutonic Knights

The Order of the Hospitallers of Saint Mary of the Teutonic Knights in Jerusalem was officially founded in Acre (Akkron) in 1190. Its purpose was to care for sick pilgrims or crusaders wounded in battles with the Saracens. They wore white surcoats with a black cross.

The Teutonic Order was one of the most powerful and influential in Europe. Most of its members belonged to the nobility, including the Prussian royal family and other Germanic nobles.