Imagine a grand hunting festival. Picture it in the late 16th century. That is the era of the Jägerhof. It stands before you now. The Jägerhof is the oldest building in Dresden’s Neustadt. Its history is long and varied.
Originally, the Jägerhof was built as a four-winged Renaissance structure. Elector August of Saxony ordered its construction around 1569. He needed a place for his hunting activities. The Jägerhof replaced an old Augustinian monastery. The monastery was dissolved in 1539. It was then torn down by 1546.
The Jägerhof served as a hunting lodge for the electors of Saxony. It was expanded until 1617. A new upper floor was added. Inside was the Jägersaal. This hall displayed paintings and sculptures. They represented the electoral court. Around 1654, 40 bears lived at the Jägerhof.
However, by the 18th century, the Jägerhof’s importance waned. Hunting palaces like Moritzburg and Hubertusburg became more popular. From 1830 to 1877, the Jägerhof became a cavalry barrack. The Saxon military used it. After the Albertstadt barracks were completed, the troops moved out. Parts of the Jägerhof were torn down. Only the west wing remained. It was used as a workshop, a warehouse and even a poorhouse.
Oskar Seyffert saved the Jägerhof from complete demolition. Between 1911 and 1913, he renovated it. His aim was to establish the Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst. It was originally called the Landesmuseum für Sächsische Volkskunst.
The air raids of February 1945 damaged the Jägerhof severely. The top two floors burned down. Only the ground floor survived. Despite the damage, an exhibition took place in December 1945. The Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst reopened in 1950. It was the first Dresden museum rebuilt after the war.
Today, the Jägerhof houses the Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst and the Puppentheatersammlung. The Jägerhof showcases Saxon folk art. Few notice the console on the south gable. It dates back to 1617. The console displays the coat of arms of the Electors of Saxony.
Outside stands a sandstone figure. It depicts a hunter with a dog. This is a copy made between 1979 and 1983. The original statues were created around 1645. They may have been made by Conrad Buchau or Christoph Walther IV. One stands in the museum foyer. The other is at Jagdschloss Augustusburg.
Also note the Blütembaum. It is a ceramic fountain by Eva Peschel. A Volkskunstbrunnen stands on the other side of the Jägerhof. As you leave the Jägerhof, remember its long history. From hunting lodge to museum, it has witnessed centuries of Dresden’s past.