Historical city tour through Grimma

We begin our tour in the heart of the city, on Grimma’s market square:

Town hall                    

Today’s town hall is the third on the new market square.

The construction of the first town hall dates back to the end of the 13th century.

It was completely destroyed in the city fire of 1305. The second town hall was completed by around 1360. The third was built around 1440. The area of the lower town was raised due to the Mulde floods, and the massive basement of the previous building was converted into a cellar.

After the fire of 1540, the west gable was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. On the east side, the half-timbered gable from 1441 was preserved. The staircase to the hall was rebuilt as a covered open staircase in 1585.

The town hall has always had a turret, which still bears the weather vane in the shape of an angel.

The extension at the northwest corner dates back to 1782. The rooms were used as a guardhouse by the Grimma Hussars and later by the police.  

Since 1952 they have served as an art house.

The town hall was extensively restored between 1995 and 2000.                  

The view pans to the left over the current town hall gallery. The next plaque is located at the residential building at Markt 10.

Markt 10

The former "Böhlausche Freihaus," a large, simple Baroque building, served as the municipal residence of the lords of Döben Castle since 1783. It was exempt from taxes and military billeting.                                                            

Immediately to the left is a porphyry plaque commemorating Göschen's printing shop. As a proofreader and friend of the classic publisher, "our companion" Seume also worked for four years at Markt 11.

Markt 11

The Seume House is a Renaissance building dating back to 1521. The oldest house on the market square features a two-story bay window with swirling and folded-work decoration made of Rochlitz porphyry. Late Gothic ceilings and wall paintings are on display.                                                                                                                          

The fact that Grimma's savings bank also has something to do with Göschen may be new to many: The publisher was one of the initiators of the founding of the local savings bank in 1826, in front of whose side entrance – a few steps further to the left – we are now standing.

Markt 13

The savings bank, built in 1929/30 on the site of two small houses according to plans by Hugo Koch, is the youngest building on the market.

The exemplary functional building is still in use today and is an example of functional architecture.            

We turn the corner to the main entrance of the Sparkasse building. Perhaps we take a quick look into the foyer, then turn around and gaze at the striking bay window of Markt 14.                                                                  

Markt 14

The broad Renaissance building from the 16th century served as a farmer's farm and had an inn with a rest area. The newer wooden corner bay window rests on figurative console stones. In Grimma, the house was known as "Hasenbein's Inn."                                                                                                                           

Today, we could also climb to the first floor for some refreshments – but perhaps we'll save the restaurant visit until after the end of the tour. On the other side of Marktgasse, leading to Nicolaiplatz, we turn to a house where you can tie the knot in style: the two rings at the entrance already indicate this!

Markt 15

Bailiff Lüder had the beautiful Renaissance house built around 1572.

A magnificent alliance coat of arms adorns the niche portal. The stair tower with its stone spiral staircase and the painted wooden ceiling in the foyer of the current registry office were restored by 2003.                                                                               

Café Winkler, which we can find on the left of the two City administration buildings (Markt 16/17) – also historically interesting – find. The fact that the enema syringe was previously the house's trademark has nothing to do with the pastry shop – its business was good...

Markt 18

This Renaissance building housed the workshop of GCI Weber, who held a monopoly on the sale of pewter enema syringes, around 1800. The façade is decorated with neoclassical palmettes.

From 1894 onwards, Hermann Winkler ran a well-known café here.                                           

A golden lion is emblazoned above the gate of Markt 19 It once lent its name to Grimma's oldest inn. We now walk along the south side of the market square and reach a striking baroque building whose white facade catches the eye.

Markt 23

After a fire in the city in 1739/40, wigmaker Johann Gottfried Berger had the house rebuilt in keeping with the spirit of the times, including its characteristic bay window. Subsequently, it was used by various merchants and traders, serving as a tourist office/city information center after 1990 and again since 2014.

The baroque architectural details such as Delft tiles and a stove on the second floor, stucco ceilings and painted panels impress visitors.

We leave the corner house at number 26 on the right, cross the street, and enter Augustinergasse. Unfortunately, only insiders can currently recognize the remains of a historically valuable medieval tower house in the corner building...

The St. Augustin High School With this in mind, we enter Klosterstraße. Turning our gaze to the left, we see the Grimma Castle If we turn it to the right, we have our next destination in sight.

Monastery Church of St. Augustine

The oldest Saxon mendicant church is the only remaining part of the former Augustinian monastery.

Built in 1290 by the Augustinian Hermits, it was destroyed by flood in 1315.

After reconstruction, it burned down in 1430 and was rebuilt. Martin Luther stayed at St. Augustine's Monastery several times as a visitor of his order and preached there repeatedly from 1516 onwards.

In 1550, Elector Moritz had a Saxon state school established in the monastery buildings.

In 1952, mold infestation was discovered in the wooden barrel vault. It collapsed completely in the summer of 1989. After 1990, the municipal building was gradually renovated. Since then, it has served cultural purposes.                                             

The devastating Mulde River floods of 2002 and 2013 caused extensive damage to the high school and monastery church, to Paul-Gerhardt-Straße, and to the entire old town. To prevent such a catastrophe from happening again in Grimma, a flood protection system is being built along the Mulde River bank. We look forward to being able to enjoy the charming riverside path between the stone bridge and the suspension bridge again soon!

The District Museum in the neighborhood is definitely worth a visit. A large portion of the books and artifacts were irretrievably lost in the Mulde floods. However, what has been carefully restored today can tell even more about Grimma's history... We follow the street named after the famous former Grimma state school student Paul Gerhardt and its charming residential buildings to Baderplan.

Baderplan 1

The current superintendent's office originated in the mid-13th century as the "Elisabeth Chapel," a hospital and seat of the Cistercian nuns before the construction of Nimbschen Monastery. The restored chapel is located on the ground floor and is also used for cultural purposes.                                                                             

At the garden gate of the superintendent's office we turn around and cross the street.

Fortunately, the bathing facility, which had partially collapsed as a result of the Mulde floods, was also able to be rebuilt – even though it no longer fulfills its original function.

Baderplan 12

In the Middle Ages, the municipal bathhouse served as a place for personal hygiene, health, and casual socializing. It existed until the 16th century. Underfloor heating from the 15th century and two black kitchens have been documented.                                                                                                                  

We turn left onto the Large mill with its yellow clinker facade.

Incidentally, this is where the intact part of the city fortifications begins. Wall house One of them was that of Ludwig Ferdinand Stolle, who made a name for himself not only through the Grimma local song “In the valley where the Mulde flows...”, but also as editor of the popular magazine “Die Gartenlaube”.

The best view of the flood protection system and the city wall with its arcades can be had from the riverside promenade opposite, below the city forest. We'll probably do this walk the next day.

We walk up Köhlerstraße, where a large corner house with its striking stepped gable catches the eye from afar.

Köhlerstraße 1

One of Grimma's oldest stone houses, with a stepped gable and Gothic architectural elements, was built in 1230 as a settlement and chapel of the Christian-secular Knights Templar. Until 1529, it served as the city's "Hospital of the Cross," then as a stable and salt tavern.   

We leave the proud Frauenkirche on our right for now, cross Frauenstraße and walk across Leipziger Platz, past the traditional hotel “Goldenes Schiff” and marvel at a reddish-brown, angular portal diagonally opposite the hospitable place.                                                                                

Leipziger Str. 5

The most historically valuable part of the town estate is the medieval tower house (c. 1230/40). It was only in the 19th century that a complete farm with a barn and stables was established here – in the heart of the town. Following the destruction caused by the 2002 flood, the complex was rebuilt in accordance with historic preservation regulations.

Take the time to visit the photo documentation of the 2002 flood in the barn! The charming dollhouse exhibition (Lydia Hille Collection) in the residential tower is by no means just for children.

We now turn back toward the city center. The impressive twin towers of the Frauenkirche guide us. First, however, we pass the church on the right and pay attention to a rather inconspicuous building that now houses a children's leisure center.

Frauenkirchhof 1

The so-called "Old Commercial School" was built around 1530 as a "municipal boys' school." During the 1621 reconstruction, gravestones from the church's surroundings were used. Impressive blind brick arcades were added to both gables.       

If we're lucky, we can finally take a look inside or treat ourselves to a moment of peace within the ancient walls: The Frauenkirche is the main church of the Evangelical Lutheran parish and a landmark of our city.                                                                                                 

Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Munich)

Construction of the twin-towered west front of this landmark church began around 1180. Adjacent to it is the Gothic basilica, completed in 1239. The late Gothic winged altarpiece and Romanesque and Gothic capitals made of Rochlitz porphyry tuff are noteworthy.      

Lange Straße is Grimma's main shopping street, connecting Leipziger Platz and Marktplatz. Its numerous shops, cafés, and restaurants invite you to stroll and shop.

The attentive visitor will find many interesting architectural details such as niche portals, tradesmen's signs, dormer windows and, in some shops, wooden Renaissance ceilings.

We are slowly approaching the market square and the end of our tour.

But first we turn at the corner Long street 50 into Kreuzstrasse.

Those who are curious are welcome to visit the charmingly designed, always hospitable courtyard and get inspiration for designing their own property!

Not only the appetite for the good Saxon sausage should make you take a trip to the Cross street 12 A butcher shop with such impressive glass ceiling murals is simply a must-see!

Treat yourself to a look at the shoe store Cross street 20 – because of the wooden ceiling! – and then turn to the corner building opposite.

Nicolaistraße 2

The renovated former farmstead, with its Black Kitchen and blacksmith shop, dates back to the 13th century. The elevation of the medieval town level by almost two meters is clearly visible inside thanks to the exposed paved floor.                                                                                                

Did the owner tell you that this, like many other buildings in the city center, housed a hussar barracks until 1914? A society is now reviving their history.

We return to Lange Straße and head toward the market. The so-called "Kaufhaus" (department store) also commemorates a particularly dark chapter in German history. In Grimma alone, almost 1938 Jewish residents died after their deportation between 1943 and 30. Only a few were able to save their lives in exile.

Long street 58

The first local "textile department store" was built in 1901, spread over two floors and featuring extensive glass, steel, and cast-iron columns. It was owned until 1935 by the Jewish merchant Motulsky, who perished in Theresienstadt in 1942.

In 1949 it became the first state-owned retail store (HO) in the area.

via the A14 Leipzig-Dresden, turn onto the B107 at the Grimma junction

Volkshausplatz (free)

Prophetenberg/Colditzer Straße

Raft place

www.grimma.de

http://www.grimma.de/tourismus/#.W5eq8_lCSUk

"Grimma - A Reader" ISBN: 3-930846-16-0

"I praise my Grimma" 3 ISBN: 978-3-00-052911-5

"Grimma Cityscapes" ISBN: 978-3-86729-142-2

A public city walk takes place every Saturday (May - October) at 11 a.m.

Cost per person: 5 euros, students: 2 euros.

Duration: approx. 60 minutes

Meeting point: Tourist Information Grimma, Markt 23 in 04668 Grimma

Further information is available from the Grimma Tourist Information Office at 03437 9779011. Advance registration is not necessary.