Tucked deep within the enchanting forests of Thuringia lies a whimsical hunting lodge that seems lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. With its storybook charm and cottage-like silhouette, the structure instantly calls to mind the witch’s hut from a Brothers Grimm tale.
Commissioned between 1915 and 1917 by Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Altenburg, the lodge was never meant to serve as a typical hunting retreat. Instead, it became a personal sanctuary for the Duke—who was known as much for his aristocratic heritage as for his colorful private life.
More than just a romantic hideaway, the lodge functioned as a pleasure pavilion. Among its most intriguing features was a secret staircase concealed within the Duke’s private chambers. This hidden passage allowed one of his mistresses to exit discreetly if an unexpected visitor—particularly the Duchess—arrived unannounced.
The inspiration for this curious retreat came from the Topplerschlösschen, a 14th-century fortified tower near Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Elevated above water and balanced on slender supports, the original tower captured the Duke’s imagination and heavily influenced the lodge’s fairy-tale design.
Today, the structure endures as a fascinating relic of early 20th-century romanticism—a blend of fantasy architecture and the personal indulgences of a fading aristocracy.
