St. Meinolf Hunting Lodge

In the middle of the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park stands the picturesque St. Meinolf hunting lodge, formerly known as Conradsruh or Wilhelmsruh. It was built in 1891 in the Hevetal valley as the last castle in the Sauerland. The architect was Count von Hardenberg from Kiel, who built the castle for Conrad Heinrich II von Donner. The Hamburg banker, who also owned property in Schleswig-Holstein, bought large areas of forest in the Arnsberg Forest. After his death in 1911, his son and heir, Conrad Heinrich III von Donner, had the hunting lodge, which was built with simple bricks, converted into a prestigious residence through several additions and renovations.In addition to the hunting lodge, the von Donners left something else at the Möhnesee that reminds them of them. As a result of their relationship with the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, they introduced non-native game. Although most species have since disappeared, the sika deer have managed to survive to this day.Baron von Donner placed the first sika deer in 1893 in a 600 hectare area that was surrounded by a fence. In 1936, snow broke and a fence was partially destroyed. The first animals were able to escape and reproduced in complete freedom. After the gate was fully opened in 1945, the deer species, which originated in Asia, gradually populated the entire Arnsberg Forest.The St. Meinolf hunting lodge is now privately owned and is therefore unfortunately no longer accessible. It can only be admired from the outside.
Source: reisefuehrer-moehnesee.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/jagdschloss-st-meinolf

In the Snow Dress

The St. Meinolf hunting lodge is completely surrounded by trees and bushes and is almost invisible from the road. It doesn't give the impression of being inhabited or used.