Here at the Jägerhof, imagine hunters gathering with their entourage. This was before the gate stood before you. The Jägerhof gave its name to Potsdam’s oldest city gate, the Jägertor or Hunter’s Gate.
Built in 1733, the Jägertor was designed by Peter von Gayette. It served as a northern exit in Potsdam. The gate controlled smuggling and prevented soldiers from deserting.
Look closely at the Jägertor’s architecture. Notice the Tuscan-style pillars. Observe the sculptures. A stag is surrounded by hunting dogs. Flaming grenades flank them. These elements connect to the Jägerhof and its military purpose. The architrave and crown are sandstone. The pillars consist of plastered brickwork.
The Jägertor once formed part of the Potsdam excise wall. Due to the angled intersection of Lindenstrasse, it was built at an angle. In 1869, the city wall was demolished. The Jägertor became a freestanding structure.
Dismar Degen, Friedrich Wilhelm I’s court painter, captured the gate’s setting. His oil painting exaggerates the gate’s dimensions. It appears larger and more imposing than reality. The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Berlin-Brandenburg Foundation owns this painting.
Today, the Jägertor is part of a promenade. This promenade traces the former city wall. It marks the contrast between the baroque city to the south. Villa developments spread to the north.
For a time, a nursing home for officers stood near here. Later, it became the Hotel Am Jägertor. It owes its name to the Jägertor. Before 1989, the hotel belonged to VEB Reisebüro der DDR. In 2000, it reopened as a first-class hotel.
In 2013, the Jägertor underwent extensive restoration. Decades of weather took their toll. Rainwater had heavily saturated the structure. Corrosion caused deformations and cracks.
As you stand before the Jägertor, consider its history. From city gate to landmark, it has stood the test of time. It remains a focal point on Lindenstrasse. It links the past with the present in Potsdam.