Mindelheim is located on the river Mindel, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of the Bavarian capital of Munich.

In 1365, the Dukes of Teck-Owen came into the possession of Mindelheim but had to sell their heritage around the castle Teck to the Counts of Württemberg.

On 18 November 1705, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was made Prince of Mindelheim by Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor.

The King of Prussia, through his representative the prince of Anhalt-Dessau, moved that the title should descend successively to all the heirs of Marlborough’s body.

But the fate of the principality, and of Marlborough's effective territorial sovereignty, depended upon the ultimate peace treaty.

The most important municipal buildings such as the town hall or churches are arranged around a central market square.

As in most cases, this wall is now incomplete as it was partially torn down in the 19th century to make room for modern buildings.