Zeughaus, Historical building in Sebnitz, Germany

The Zeughaus is a massive stone building in the Großer Zschand valley, on the Ottendorf cadastral area within Sebnitz. Its present form dates from 1820, when a stone structure replaced the wooden arsenal; a floor was added in 1871. The year 1642 on the facade was only added in the 19th century. A former hunting lodge in Umgebinde style stands just east of it.

The first wooden Zeughaus was built in 1728 under Elector Augustus the Strong to store hunting gear closer to the Großer Zschand hunting grounds. The date 1642 on the present house was only added in the 19th century. In 1820 the dilapidated wooden building was replaced by a stone structure, which was raised by one storey in 1871, giving the house its current form.

The name Zeughaus refers to the storage of hunting gear: nets, traps, wolf spears and cages kept here for the electoral hunts. A Spur- und Zeugknecht lived in the house and maintained the paths of the hunting district. In 1786 the first snack bar opened in the building, and from 1908 the forest warden was licensed to run a tavern.

The Zeughaus can only be reached on foot or by bicycle via the national park cycle route. The shortest approach is from the Neumannmühle car park, about two kilometres through the Großen Zschand. Several hiking trails cross at the house, including the Malerweg.

A historic pond below the Zeughaus dates back to the 15th century and was converted to meadow before World War I. The pond was later restored and still shows traces of its long past.