Major Fire at Historic Hunting Lodge of Thurn und Taxis in Bavaria

Regensburg, Bavaria - A significant fire broke out at the historic Thiergarten hunting lodge in the Regensburg district during the early hours of Monday. Thick smoke billowed from the structure as firefighters battled to control the blaze, which completely consumed the roof and left visible flames and embers within the building.

The hunting lodge, once owned by the Thurn und Taxis family, housed the club facilities of the Regensburg Golf and Country Club, along with a fine dining restaurant. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 12:30 AM, prompting a large-scale response from local fire departments.

Firefighters faced challenges accessing the remote location of the lodge, requiring them to lay down extensive hose lines to ensure an adequate water supply for firefighting efforts. The Technical Relief Agency (THW) also provided support in battling the fire, which ultimately could not be contained.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries as a result of the incident, but the damage is expected to reach several million euros. Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this time. There are no indications of arson, and authorities plan to issue a public appeal for witnesses.

According to a police spokesperson, the preliminary damage assessment indicates costs in the low seven-digit euro range, but this figure may increase following further evaluation. Fire investigators from the criminal police department are expected to commence their inquiries later in the day, while firefighting efforts may continue into the afternoon.

The Thiergarten hunting lodge has historical significance, previously being made available to the Regensburg Golf Club by Prince Johannes von Thurn und Taxis in 1969. The lodge is situated within a wooded area that has historical ties to prominent political figures, including Bavaria's former Minister-President Franz Josef Strauß, who sadly passed away shortly after attending a hunting event there in 1988.