Jagdschloss Oesterholz, château allemand
Jagdschloss Oesterholz is a manor house in Schlangen that was originally designed as a hunting lodge for the local counts. The building had wooden walls and was surrounded by water for protection, later reinforced with stone walls and towers.
The hunting lodge was originally founded around 1599 as a conversion of a farm after Count Simon VI decided to use the land for his hunting trips. After damage during the Thirty Years' War, it was rebuilt with stone walls starting in 1665 before being demolished in 1775.
The hunting lodge was a symbol of the authority and hunting rights of the local counts for centuries. The carved deer above the stone gate still shows what purpose the building served and how important hunting was for the region's society.
The site is today quiet and easily accessible, with preserved stone remains and the old gate still visible. Visitors can walk around the ruins and explore the remains in their natural setting surrounded by trees and grass.
The owner of the original farm was even imprisoned because he refused to give up his land for the count's hunting lodge. This lesser-known story shows the determination of the Lippe counts to secure their ideal hunting location.
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