The castle of Wernigerode in the north east of the Harz mountains, Germany, has its origins around 1120. The chapel in the Gothic style dates from the 14th century. In the early 17th century the castle was abandoned but from 1671 converted to a baroque residence without military use. Starting 1858 the castle was rebuilt as a place befitting the vice Kanzler of the German Empire. Left as a residence in 1929 it became a museum in 1946.