Wildgehege Moritzburg

In Moritzburg in Saxony, around ten kilometres from Saxony's state capital Dresden, you will find the Moritzburg Game Reserve, which has been open since 1958. The history of the Moritzburg game reserve dates back to 1580, when it served as a hunting preserve for the then Electors Moritz and August. As early as 1696, the Saxon Elector Johann Georg IV had the hunting enclosure converted into the "Alte Thiergarten". In addition to hunting animals, "exotic" animals were also kept there for the first time. From 1893, visitors were even allowed to visit the zoo for a fee and view the show feedings. However, state hunts were still organised here until 1918 and the abdication of the Saxon King Friedrich August III. After the Second World War and the occupation of Germany, the "Alte Thiergarten" was dismantled and the site was used by the occupying forces. With the reconstruction of the game reserve in 1958, the focus was placed on the conservation of animal species that are mostly native to Europe. Today, around 200 animals from around 30 species can be found on the 40-hectare site. In addition to goats, deer, wild horses, mouflon, fallow deer and wild boar, there are also various species of marten, falcons, storks and bison to marvel at. The Moritzburg game reserve is open to visitors all year round, but with seasonal changes.