A show of respect

The age-old ceremonies and rituals observed by German hunters honour the deep connection between humans, the land and the quarry we pursue

- Steven McGonigal

HUNTING traditions and customs vary the world over but none are more admired than those of Germany and Eastern Europe. Germany has a rich hunting history that can be traced back to the eighth century, and its sporting heritage is resplendent with ceremony and ritual, honouring the hunter and, more importantly, the quarry. It is hard to pinpoint who began the Jagdliches Brauchtum (hunting customs) but they play a crucial role in hunting's history and, arguably, its future.

Germany has many Jagdschlösser (hunting lodges) peppered throughout the country. These lavish and usually very large buildings some still standing date back as far as the 15th century - were constructed by the aristocracy and used as hunting residences but also for the celebrations that followed. Such grand structures and their adjoining estates conjure romantic images of hunting parties past pursuing red deer and wild boar, followed by extravagant feasting and merrymaking.

One of the most impressive, and one with a deep hunting connection, is Moritzburg Castle in the state of Saxony, only a few kilometres from Dresden. Named after Duke Moritz of Saxony, who initially constructed it as a hunting lodge between 1542 and 1546, it is a breathtaking building standing on an artificial island, and features four round towers around the main construct. The castle is also home to the heaviest red stag antler in the world, weighing more than 40lb - one of 71 trophies, some 400 years old. Another of note is a 66-point red stag from an animal killed by Frederick III of Brandenburg in 1696.