Museum Jagdschloss Kranichstein

About the museum

Jagdschloss Kranichstein grew out of a court estate that Landgrave Georg I of Hesse-Darmstadt acquired in 1572. Around 1580 he had it expanded into a three-winged complex, and a first game park for courtly hunting was created there. Kranichstein reached its heyday at the end of the 17th century, when Landgrave Ernst Ludwig introduced the French parforce hunt here. In 1688 he also had a hunting arsenal built for nets, hunting cloths and other equipment; this is today's Zeughaus.

From 1917, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig assembled the collection on hunting history and set up the "Museum of Darmstadt Hunting Culture." After World War II, the Stiftung Hessischer Jägerhof took over the palace and reopened the museum in 1952.

The collection includes stag trophies, richly decorated hunting weapons, hunting hangers, crossbows and the Kranichstein hunting cloths, which are unusually well preserved in such numbers and were used to steer game during the driven hunt known as the Eingestellte Jagd. In the Zeughaus, the bioversum has its home: an interactive natural history museum with a visitor lab and an outdoor lab. From 2027 onward, a comprehensive renovation of the palace, a new permanent exhibition, an elevator and a new storage depot are planned.

Highlights

• Collection of courtly hunting weapons, trophies and hunting equipment
• Original Kranichstein hunting cloths
• Rondell Hall, trophy galleries and living rooms of the hunting palace
• bioversum in the hunting arsenal: interactive natural history museum with the same ticket
• Palace park with Backhausteich pond, nature trails and Café Kranich

Permanent exhibitions

• MUSEUM im Jagdschloss – Jagdgeschichte erleben – Historic rooms and the collection of courtly hunting culture, with trophies, hunting weapons and the Kranichstein hunting cloths, tell the story of the hunting tradition of the Darmstadt landgraves.
• bioversum – Mitmachmuseum am Jagdschloss – In the historic hunting arsenal, an interactive natural history museum makes biodiversity, habitats and research tangible through hands-on stations, a visitor lab and greenhouses.

Founded

1917

Operated by

Stiftung Hessischer Jägerhof

Admission & discounts

The tickets are valid for both museums (the MUSEUM in the hunting palace and the bioversum). Members of the FamilienApp Hessen receive €3 off family tickets.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The MUSEUM in the hunting palace is not accessible; the bioversum in the Zeughaus is wheelchair-accessible. Dogs are not allowed in either building. The planned renovation is to add an elevator.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family holiday program and visitor lab for children from age 6, children's birthday parties for ages 5 to 12, holiday games and children's workshops, plus the hands-on museum bioversum. Children up to and including age 3 enter free.

Getting there & parking

From the Zeughaus, a footpath of about 300 meters leads to the hunting palace, either along Kranichsteiner Straße or past Backhausteich pond. The palace is in the northeast of Darmstadt, about 30 kilometers from Frankfurt.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café Kranich in the Zeughaus (with beer garden in the summer half-year), Fri–Sun and public holidays 12:00–18:00.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 200 guests.

Palace park, Marstall, glasshouses, Parforcehof, Rondell Hall and chapel for up to 200 guests; in the Zeughaus, rooms for groups of up to 60 people.

Plan your visit