Messstrecke „Breites Gestell“

Why did Prussian royalty need sixteen paths diverging from a single point? The Messstrecke “Breites Gestell” in Potsdam holds the answer. This seemingly ordinary track, part of the “Great Trail Star” (Großer Wegestern), has a history intertwined with royal pursuits. King Frederick William I, a passionate courser, envisioned a vast hunting ground where prey could be run down by swift horses and hounds. Between 1725 and 1729, he transformed 40 square miles of brush-land into the Parforceheide (coursing-heath). Central to this design was the “Great Star,” a point from which sixteen trails, or “Gestelle,” radiated outwards. The Messstrecke “Breites Gestell” was one of these original paths, offering hunters a clear route back to the center. Originally, “Breites Gestell” was unique, being the only trail to cross the “Star” and retain its name. Later, due to highway construction, the northern part was renamed Kohlhasenbrückstraße, while the southern part, now a dead-end street, remained “Breites Gestell”. This division created a peculiar situation. Two differently named streets, originating from a shared historical path, now meet at the “Great Star.” This unusual history adds a layer of intrigue to the Messstrecke “Breites Gestell.” It stands as a reminder of a time when royal hunts shaped the landscape. Today, while only eight of the original sixteen trails remain, the “Great Star” still marks their convergence. The Messstrecke “Breites Gestell,” in its divided form, continues to tell this story. It invites us to imagine the spectacle of royal coursers and the strategic layout that ensured their return.