Rohoznice Hunting Lodge

The Rohoznice Hunting Lodge is a small Neo-Gothic building standing in the woods above the Klechtávecký pond, between the villages of Dobřenice and Rohoznice, on the border of the Hradec Králové and Pardubice districts, in the Pardubice Region of the eastern Czech Republic. It was built in 1880 as part of the landscaped park belonging to the nearby manor in Dobřenice, and today, in a heavily ruined state, it is a common stop on short forest walks in the area.

Who built the lodge, and why here?

The building was commissioned by Karel Daniel Weinrich, who bought the Dobřenice estate in 1863 and, five years later, in 1868, had a new manor house built there. The lodge in the forest above the Klechtávecký pond was added as a companion structure to that residence — a resting point and vantage spot for hunts in the surrounding woods, a common feature of 19th-century country estates in the region.

What does the building look like?

It is a rectangular, partly two-storey structure in the Neo-Gothic style, with a red rendered façade imitating rusticated stonework and battlements evoking a fortified wall. A round turret rises at the centre of the east façade, containing a spiral staircase connecting the floors. On the north façade, a circular niche holds the Weinrich family coat of arms — a surviving trace of the first owner, though badly weathered. The ground floor still has fragments of cross vaulting with stucco ribs, and the main room once held a fireplace that no longer survives.

Who owned the lodge over the years?

After Karel Daniel Weinrich, the estate passed to his son, also named Karel, who ran it from 1910 to 1928. In 1928, Dobřenice and the lodge were bought by JUDr. Karel Löwenstein, long-time general director of the Škoda Works in Pilsen. The Löwenstein family held the property until 1948, when it was nationalised and placed under the state forestry administration, later also used by a local agricultural cooperative. In October 1994, as part of post-communist restitution, ownership returned to the family: the current owner is Karla Katschnerová, Karel Löwenstein's daughter.

What condition is the lodge in today?

The building is now significantly deteriorated. Its façades and outdoor stairs are damaged, part of the roof structure has collapsed, and water leaks into the interior. For safety reasons, entering the building is prohibited. It remains freely visible from the outside, however, and is easy to see on a walk through the forest around the Klechtávecký pond.

How do you get there?

The simplest approach is a forest path south of Dobřenice, which crosses the D11 expressway. The route runs through the woods surrounding the Klechtávecký pond and needs no special preparation — a short, quiet walk popular with people from the surrounding villages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Rohoznice hunting lodge located? In the forest above the Klechtávecký pond, between the villages of Dobřenice and Rohoznice, on the border of the Hradec Králové and Pardubice districts, in the Pardubice Region.

When was the lodge built? In 1880, commissioned by Karel Daniel Weinrich, owner of the nearby Dobřenice estate.

Can visitors go inside? No — entry is prohibited for safety reasons, but the building can be freely viewed from the outside.

Who was the last private owner before nationalisation? The Löwenstein family, who bought the estate in 1928 and held it until 1948.

Who owns the lodge today? Since the 1994 restitution, the owner has been Karla Katschnerová, Karel Löwenstein's daughter.