Major Renovation Work at Nuremberg's Public Swimming Pool

(eap) Since its closure in 1994, Nuremberg’s citizens have been waiting for the Volksbad to reopen. This could happen at the end of 2024 if the renovation work progresses as planned. Opened in 1914, the Volksbad at that time included three indoor swimming pools, 66 tub baths and 14 shower baths, as well as an Irish-Roman bathing area with resting facilities. During World War II, the bath suffered enormous war damage from bombing, but was partially repaired and reopened immediately after the war, in 1947. Then, in 1994, it was closed after several years of declining visitor numbers. Since then, the beautiful art nouveau location has been used for photo shoots, techno parties and cultural events, among other things. At the end of January 2015, the city council commissioned the related public operating group of NürnbergBad to prepare a feasibility study. Last spring, construction work finally began, with a duration of 30 months. The costs for the revitalization amount to around 55.6 million euros, of which around 30 million euros are to be paid by the city of Nuremberg after deduction of the assured subsidies.

In the future, the two former men’s halls of the pool will be used for school, club and public swimming. A teaching pool will be built in the old boiler house and the former women’s hall will become a wellness area with sauna, wellness treatments and health care applications. One of the two men’s halls (swimming hall II) will also be used for conferences and events. “Something very special will be the lifting floor in Hall II. With this, we can vary the water depth continuously. This will allow us to turn the pool into Nuremberg’s largest pool at the weekend and to have parties on the water in the evening,” explains project manager and second plant manager of NürnbergBad, Joachim Lächele. In addition, there will be a baby and toddler area, a gastronomic offering, a gym and a physiotherapy practice. A sponsorship campaign for the reconstruction of the historic water tower, for which 1.7 million euros are calculated, is running through the end of June. The tower would house a multifunctional meeting and event space that could be used for various meetings or celebrations. In addition, citizens can already support the Volksbad today by purchasing an annual pass. ■