“Essacher Luft” whispers on the wind. It is a student tradition tied to this venerable place: Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger. We are standing before one of Osnabr\u00fcck’s oldest pubs. Its history is long and storied.
Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger is more than just a pub. It is a living piece of Osnabr\u00fcck’s history. It has stood here since the 19th century near Katharinenkirche. Its walls echo with tales of students, locals and the famous Stammtisch.
The story of Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger began in 1859. Kaufmann and Leinenh\u00e4ndler Th\u00f6rner secured a Bierschenke license. Th\u00f6rner was a passionate hunter. This is where the name “Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger” or Green Hunter comes from.
Before it was a pub, part of this building was a Herrenhaus. It belonged to the Barf\u00fc\u00dferkloster in the Middle Ages. The oldest section of Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger is this stone structure.
But the pub’s history is also intertwined with the \u00e4ltesten Stammtisch Deutschlands or Germany’s oldest regular’s table. This group began around 1720. They met in various Osnabr\u00fcck wine taverns. Jacob J\u00e4ger owned these taverns.
The Stammtisch’s exact founding date is unknown. But records suggest citizens met regularly before 1819. They gathered for jovial company. In 1894, the group moved to Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger. They still meet every Friday in the Klause. Klause is a special room within Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger.
Inside the Klause is a large wooden table. Otto von Bismarck gave it as thanks for a birthday message. The walls are adorned with portraits of past members. Famous names include Albert Lortzing, Johannes von Miquel, and Justus Wilhelm Lyra.
For years, guests enjoyed the beer garden. A Rosskastanie or horse chestnut tree stood there for over 100 years. Sadly, it had to be cut down in 2017 due to pests. A replacement wasn’t possible. A new tree couldn’t root quickly enough.
Through the years, many have operated Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger. They include Advokat Schmidtmann, Dienstmann Pielsticker, and Fr\u00e4ulein Hoppensack. The Kahle family ran it for three generations. Since 1974, the Rupp family has been at the helm. Pascal Rupp offers guests Wi-Fi.
Today, Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger welcomes a diverse crowd. Students mingle with locals and football fans. They watch games on a large screen in the covered beer garden. Here you can enjoy Osnabr\u00fccker Pils and other beers.
So, as you stand here, remember the long history. Remember the hunters, students, and Stammtisch members. They have all contributed to the story of Gr\u00fcner J\u00e4ger. A true Osnabr\u00fcck original.