Chapel @museum.de

In the early 17th century, Count Philipp Ernst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg had the castle remodelled to create a Renaissance palace. The transformation culminated in the building of this chapel to serve both court and castle. The round chapel was consecrated in 1627. Family services are still held here today, and the chapel can also be hired for weddings.

Two galleries encircle the space. The pictures on the first gallery tell the New Testament story of salvation, beginning with the birth of Jesus – to the right of the pulpit – and ending with the Last Judgement. The pictures on the second gallery show the Old Testament equivalent, which begins with the creation of Adam and ends with images of the Flood. On the wall beyond, the bible passages matching both stories are quoted – in the spelling of the day.

The upper gallery can only be entered from the Prince's private apartment, now as in the past. And from below, the gallery is not open to view. So even the pastor wouldn’t have been able to see whether the prince had nodded off during the sermon. (tongue in cheek)

Beneath the dome, there’s another alliance coat of arms – that of the Hohenlohe and Solms families. Count Philipp Ernst was married to Anna-Maria zu Solms-Sonnenwalde.

On the right, beneath the pulpit, is an old confessional. In the early decades of the 17th century, even many Protestant churches had confessionals, where individuals could make a clean breast of their sins. You can find out more about this "strangely barred cupboard" at the next stop.