Jagdschloss Hövelhof, Former prince-bishops' hunting lodge in Hövelhof, Germany.
Jagdschloss Hövelhof is a stone hunting lodge in Hövelhof, North Rhine-Westphalia, surrounded by several ancillary buildings including a kitchen, stable, and animal house. The entire complex forms a coherent ensemble that reflects daily life from the 17th century onward.
Prince-Bishop Dietrich Adolph von der Recke commissioned the structure in 1661 as a hunting retreat in the Senne region. From 1715 onward, it transformed into a parish house when the first resident clergyman, Levinus Richter, took residence and began offering instruction to locals.
The name derives from the von Hövel family, who shaped the estate across generations. Today, the buildings stand as a reminder of when instruction took place here and the lodge anchored the rhythm of village life.
The building sits at Schloßstraße 9 and is visible from the exterior year-round. Interior access is not available to the general public and requires prior arrangement.
The lodge often goes unnoticed despite having served as a school where students paid fees to learn from resident clergy. This dual role as a hunting retreat and later educational space makes it a distinctive example of how buildings transformed in the region.
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