Schloss Herzogsfreude

Schloss Herzogsfreude was a hunting lodge in Röttgen near Bonn, built to serve as a base for hunting expeditions into the Kottenforst forest. A network of wide pathways radiated outward from the building through the wooded landscape, designed specifically to facilitate the hunting activities of its occupants.

The palace was designed between 1753 and 1761 by architect Johann Heinrich Roth for Clemens August of Bavaria, Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Cologne. Following the French Revolution, the structure was auctioned off in 1804, with its materials subsequently repurposed for expanding the Wesel citadel.

The palace served as a central point for par force hunts, where hunters would wait until their prey became exhausted before pursuing it.

The original site of the palace is difficult to locate today, but a small bronze model at Schlossplatz marks the exact location where it once stood. This miniature representation gives visitors a sense of what the building looked like.

The French Revolution led to the palace's sale at public auction in 1804, and its materials were used to expand the Wesel citadel.

Location: Bonn

GPS coordinates: 50.67920,7.06861

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:45