Built around 1580, Jagdschloss Kranichstein is the centrepiece of a uniquely designed landscape of forests, meadows and ponds. For over 400 years, the Landgraves and Grand Dukes of Hesse-Darmstadt shaped this area. Even today, artistic sightlines, historic hunting lodges and natural monuments bear witness to the former princely passion for hunting.

As early as the 16th century, Landgrave Georg I created the Backhausteich pond for fish farming, which is covered with magnificent water lilies in summer. He also created an enclosed zoo, the historic boundaries of which are still visible today in the imposing pheasantry wall. Under the ‘hunting landgraves’ Ernst-Ludwig and Ludwig VIII, the landscape underwent a Baroque transformation in the 18th century based on the French model: a fan-shaped star of paths leads from the castle roundabout into nature – a symbol of the lordly claim to dominion over nature and a functional centre for elaborate par force hunts.

While a ‘wild’ pheasantry for hunting exotic game birds was preserved in a walled forest area, the ‘tame’ pheasantry directly adjacent to the palace was redesigned in the 19th century. An English landscape garden was created there, which, as part of the grand ducal summer residence, still invites visitors to stroll and relax today.

Today, this history can be experienced in many ways: whether on a visit to the Jagdschloss Kranichstein Museum, on the ‘Hunting History Stalk’ nature trail, or on guided walks through the castle grounds.