History of hunting in Anhalt-Dessau Permanent exhibition Schloss Oranienbaum

Several restored rooms on the upper floor establish the setting for the exhibition.

From dower residence to hunting lodge, a so-called Jagdschloss
The glory times of Schloss Oranienbaum ended with the death of Fürstin Henriette Catharina in 1708. Her son Fürst Leopold I. von Anhalt-Dessau, the famous „Alte Dessauer“, as well as his successor used the building primarily as a huntin lodge, a so-called Jagdschloss, as the surrounding forests offered a large wild game stock. Therefore Schloss Oranienbaum had to be adapted and modernised according to the new requirements. Particularly bedrooms for guests and staff were a necessity. The 4 corner rooms in the corps de logis were divided into 8 smaller square rooms. In some cases the ceilings were furnished with new neo-classical stucco decorations. Both halls on the upper floor of the wings were also changed significantly, namely into 3 rooms each with a long hallway in the front.

The new permanent exhibition in the extensively restored rooms in the northern wing looks back at the princely passion for hunting in the 18th century. Especially par force hunting with hounding and cornering deer with horseman and packs of hounds played an important role. Leopold brought the French par force hunt, that was not only expensive but involved also a lot of staff, hounds and equipment, to Anhalt-Dessau. Numerous non-local guests accepted invitations without hesitation from the Fürsten of Dessau. The court of Leopold I. von Anhalt-Dessau was one of ten German courts that maintained a permanent hunting equipage. Despite the arising reservations against such a feudal kind of hunt during the Enlightenment, Fürst Franz held onto par force hunting into old age.

Exhibits
Displayed historical hunting weapons, impressive trophies, drawings and paintings with hunting scenes convey an impression of the importance of the hunt for a princely court. At the same time visitors are able to see more newly restored rooms in Schloss Oranienbaum. A special exhibit is the monumental painting from artist Georg Höhn that was acquired thanks to a donation from Gesellschaft der Freunde des Dessau-Wörlitzer Gartenreiches e. V. The student of Carl Blechen created with great refinement an atmospheric scenery depicting a browsing red deer amongst the wetlands of the river Elbe.