Malteserhof, Architectural heritage monument in Römlinghoven, Germany.
Malteserhof is a historic manor house on a landscaped property near Königswinter that extends across several levels with garden spaces surrounding it. The building displays characteristic features of a country villa with classical proportions and sits within a setting framed by the green slopes of the Siebengebirge mountains.
The estate was probably held by the Teutonic Order in the late 13th century and is securely documented in 1540 as the property of Johann Edelkirchen, a winegrower's farm with vineyards. From 1593 it belonged to the Teutonic Order commandery of Jungen-Biesen, became state property in 1803, and was auctioned on 30 May 1820 to Philipp Joseph Rehfues, curator of the new University of Bonn. Hugo Peill later built the surviving country villa and park; his daughter Caroline Josefa married composer Max von Schillings, who set up a music room there.
The name refers not to the Order of Malta but to the Teutonic Order (Deutschorden), to which the estate is said to have belonged in the late 13th century; from 1593 it belonged to the Teutonic commandery of Jungen-Biesen. In the 20th century the former stables became living, office and conference rooms, the apple chamber an Evangelical chapel and the tower room a Catholic chapel. The Evangelical Laurentius convent then made the farm its main seat.
The former estate is private housing today, so the grounds and villa are viewed from Malteserstraße 52 in Römlinghoven, not entered. The property rises eastward toward the Siebengebirge at about 68 m above sea level, and a high rubble-stone wall separates the roughly one-hectare park from the street. The four-storey crenellated tower added in 1872 stands on the south-east side.
The four-storey crenellated tower on the south-east side was added in 1872, and its facade survives in its original form. The composer Max von Schillings lived here for some years and set up a music room in the house.
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