Zeughaus, Renaissance arsenal in Kassel, Germany

The Zeughaus is a rectangular Renaissance building with four stories that served as an arsenal and provisions storage. The structure displays characteristic Renaissance architectural details and is now part of the Max-Eyth School complex.

Planned by Count Rochus zu Lynar and Christoph Müller, the Zeughaus was built from 1581 to 1583 under Landgrave William IV as the backbone of Kassel's modernised fortifications, which withstood capture during the Thirty Years' War. Under Landgrave Charles it became a central artillery depot with captured militaria displayed on the first floor. French troops plundered it twice in 1758; Landgrave Frederick II had the damage repaired eight years later.

Latin inscriptions on the building's narrow sides reference its role as a weapons and provisions depot in verse form. The landgrave's portrait bust on the south side speaks to the importance of the structure in the region's governance.

The remaining walls are now part of the Max-Eyth School grounds and can be viewed from outside. Visitors can contact the school office for more details about the building's history.

The most dramatic looting came in the night of 9 to 10 April 1848: after the Garde du Corps attacked a protest march, citizens broke open the gate at the west tower to arm themselves from the stores. In 1862 Elector Frederick William had that same gate walled up on 4 April to show his resolve against the citizens.