Schloß Wolfsgarten

Wolf Castle Garden is a former hunting lodge in Langen (Hessen), which lies about 15 km south of Frankfurt am Main.

History

The castle was built from 1722 to 1724 after plans by the architect Louis Remy Upper de la Fosse by Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse -Darmstadt as a hunting lodge. It corresponded to the then current pattern for hunting lodges that had boom by 1709, introduced by Ernst Ludwig Parforcejagd: a rectangular courtyard, were arranged around the the Herrenbau, opposite the stables and other buildings at the side.

1768 Parforcejagd was abolished, Wolf Castle Garden was no longer used and fell into disrepair. It was not until 1834 - the demolition of the castle was already clear - took Grand Duke Ludwig III. the decaying building on. He let the plant carefully renovate, equip and re- used them.

At the beginning of the 20th century the castle underwent extensive remodeling and the park was designed. This includes the 1902 by the architect Joseph Maria Olbrich for Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the reigning Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig Art Nouveau Princess House ( also " play house " called ). The house and all its furnishings are reduced so that they were placed on the size of the then seven -year-old princess. It is now the only surviving unchanged work of Joseph Maria Olbrich.

After the abdication of the Grand Dukes of Hesse and by Rhine in 1918 Wolf Castle Garden was one of the residences of the former grand ducal family.

After the Princely Garden Party in September 2013, the hunting castle is returned to its original state of 1844 ( after a painting by Ernst August average Spahn ) and the rubble stone walls re plastered with beige color. This measure is also conditioned by the fact that the vulnerable masonry must be protected from wind and weather. In addition, the 3000 m² roofs are covered again and renewed their wooden structure.

Visit

Today the castle is owned by the Hessian House Foundation, is the family residence of the Landgrave of Hesse and not freely accessible. Every year over two weekends in May to the Rhododendron and three days in September for the " Princely Garden Party " ( Friday to Sunday on the third weekend of the month) makes the house of Hesse the park accessible to visitors. In addition, there will be a ecumenical service in the park on May 1.