Funding Association

Rescue from decay

In 1964 the owners of Berlichingen exchanged the hall buildings with the municipality of Merchingen for about 4 hectares of forest. At that time, the entire castle was in a threateningly poor condition.

In order to protect the chateau parts, which are now owned by the municipality, from further decay, the “Citizen’s campaign for the expansion of the town’s own chateau part in Merchingen” or the association “Förderverein Schlossausbau” was founded on 31 March 1982 on the initiative of Emil Otterbach, the then mayor of Merchingen. The main objective was to successively renovate the castle and to make it accessible to the general public.

Förderverein Schloss mit Heimatmuseum e.V.

In the last 25 years, the Hall buildings have been converted into event rooms in three construction phases and the corner and gate buildings into a Schlosshotel. Furthermore, various club rooms, a Heimatmuseum, a Tagungsraum and a Früstücksmuseum have been set up.

In the future, the “Förderverein Schloss mit Heimatmuseum e. V.”, renamed in 1991, would like to push ahead with the further expansion of the castle, maintain the museums and redesign the outdoor facilities.