Köln: Gürzenich

Country: Germany (Deutschland)
State: Nordrhein-Westfalen
City: Köln
Location: Martinstraße

Built 1441-1447 as a municipal dance hall and department store. The festival hall located on the upper floor was used for municipal festivites and functions, the ground floor was used as a department store. In the 17th century, the whole building was only used as a department store. From ca. 1820 revival of the building as a festival and concert venue. Since then also used for carnival balls. From 1857 to 1986 home to the Gürzenich-Orchester. Extensions in the 19th century. Ground floor used by the local Stock Exchange. Destroyed in 1943, with only the exterior walls remaining. 1952-1955 rebuilt by Rudolf Schwarz in modern style within the existing walls, incorporating the neighbouring church ruin St. Alban. 1996-1997 renovations and modernization, conversion into a congress centre. Currently mainly used for congresses, exhibitions, concerts, and carnival balls. The building includes two halls: Großer Saal (1101 seats) and Isabellensaal (234 seats).

Notable world premieres:

  • Johannes Brahms: Concert for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (18 Oct 1887)
  • Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (5 Nov 1895)
  • Richard Strauss: Don Quixote (8 Mar 1898)
  • Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (18 Oct 1904)

Links: www.koelnkongress.de, Wikipedia

Koeln: Guerzenich Front Text: "Köln a. Rh. - Gürzenich - Saal"
Publisher: Kunstanstalt Louis Glaser; Nr. 8361
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Koeln: Guerzenich Front Text: "Köln - Gürzenich"
Handwritten Reverse Text: dated Oct 1911
Publisher: Ed. Becker, Köln; 08 55917
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Koeln: Guerzenich Front Text: "Grosser Saal im Gürzenich / Köln a. Rhein."
Handwritten Front Text: "Der schönste Saal, den ich im Rheinland gesehen habe."
Reverse Text: "Gürzenich. Gotische Weinstuben. Köln am Rhein Inh. Josef Vondenhoff"
Publisher: Verlag A. J. Nolden, Cöln-Sülz; 215628
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Köln to Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1933

Koeln: Guerzenich Reverse Text: "Köln - Gürzenich, Großer Saal"
Publisher: E. Coubillier, Köln; Kölner Görres-Haus G.m.b.H.
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Koeln: Guerzenich Reverse Text: "Köln am Rhein - Der 'Gürzenich', großer Festsaal"
Handwritten Reverse Text: "Ich lege Dir noch das schöne Foto vom Gürzenich bei. Wann werden wir hier mal ein schönes Konzert zusammen hören? Es erinnert ja leider nichts mehr an die alte Pracht, d. schöne Holztäfelung, Schnitzerei u. Wandgemälde. Aber das Moderne hat auch seinen Reiz. Alles weiß + Stühle hellblauer Samt."
Publisher: Bild-Verlag Horst Ziethen, Frechen/Köln; Nr. 684
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Koeln: Guerzenich Reverse Text: "Köln am Rhein - Gürzenich, Festsaal mit Gürzenich-Orchester"
Publisher: Sühwold-Verlag, Köln; Nr. 59
Type: Real Photo
Size: Modern
Not sent.

Permanent link: https://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/id/1943

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