August 2025

Mayor Dr. Dirk Vogel and many sponsors and guests of honor opened the newly renovated building with a celebration on Thursday

The Bad Kissingen tournament hall in the Au district lay dormant for many years, not 100. Last year, it was renovated and gradually revived. On Thursday, Bad Kissingen’s mayor Dr. Dirk Vogel, along with many of those involved in the renovation, handed over what Vogel called a “technically complex, financially ambitious, and historically significant project” to a vibrant city community during a ceremony.

It was a sublime moment when the mayor, together with Federal Minister Dorothee Bär, District Administrator Thomas Bold, and the clergy, Catholic Pastor Gerd Greier and Evangelical Lutheran Pastor Michael Greder, cut the red ribbon. Meanwhile, numerous Bad Kissingen residents sat in the newly designed stands on historically restored wooden benches—above them the renewed Bad Kissingen lettering in “the finest Art Deco font to exist in Europe” (Professor Reinhold Haus, German Foundation for Monument Protection), with a view through the white columned gallery to the Au, and from below the sounds of the Bad Kissingen Youth Music Corps, later the Blowin’ Horns Big Band.

 

“Co-production of many” under the responsibility of the city of Bad Kissingen

Shortly before, a equestrian quadrille from the Bad Kissingen Riding Club had ridden in formation before the spectators. Bad Kissingen’s ambassadors, the comedian duo Volker Heißmann and Martin Rassau, entertained with humorous contributions. Historical figures strolled up and down. As soon as the red ribbon was cut, a glider from the gliding club flew past the grandstand, carrying the banner “Turniergebäude Bad Kissingen” in tow.

Vogel described the renovation as a “coproduction of many participants,” including the federal government, the state, the monument preservation authorities, private donors, and the German Foundation for Monument Protection, but also emphasized the responsibility of the city of Bad Kissingen and the “above-the-top commitment of the city administration” as key prerequisites for its success. The tournament building is a symbol of “a rediscovered pride in a city of Bad Kissingen that believes in itself again, is shaping its future with courage and a spirit of optimism, and is achieving visible results, and is living its world heritage.”

Federal Minister Dorothee Bär described the tournament building as an “absolute gem” and “kissed awake from a deep sleep.” She said she thought it was fantastic that the city had decided to hold this kissing ceremony with the support of many supporters.

The Sleeping Beauty theme ran through many of the speeches that day, coordinated by moderator Marcus Lipsius. Christine Schwind, head of the building authority, for example, called the tournament building a “city jewel with history and a future” that is now more awake and beautiful than ever.

The planning team – the architectural firm Kreische and the structural engineering firm Federlein under the project management of Jochen Seufert – recalled the desolate, originally collapse-prone condition of the building: “Sleeping Beauty, yes, but you wouldn’t have wanted to kiss this Sleeping Beauty!” For everyone involved, the renovation project had become a “project close to our hearts.”

 

 

The renovation is coming to an end, the tournament building is just beginning

Bad Kissingen’s District Administrator Thomas Bold viewed the project as a “sign that things are looking up in the region,” which provides motivation to implement other projects.
Bold thanked the mayor and city council for their courage, as well as the citizens who contributed. Mayor Vogel had explained to the private donors in a preliminary “sponsorship hour” that their support had “put the cream on the cake.”

Department head Peter Weidisch emphasized the “authenticity” exuded by the renovated tournament building. Christian Schmidt of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation stated: “Bad Kissingen has impressively demonstrated: They can do world heritage!” Following the official ceremony, a small wine festival took place, with the band “Zufall” playing and Bad Kissingen residents dancing.

The opening of the tournament building marks the end of a twelve-month, €2.5 million renovation project. However, the tournament building, with its diverse new uses, is just at the beginning. Thursday provided a glimpse into what’s possible.

 

 

 

REWARDED: THE TOURNAMENT BUILDING SHINES IN NEW GLORY

Mayor Dr. Dirk Vogel and numerous sponsors and guests of honor opened the newly renovated building with a celebration on Thursday.

The Bad Kissingen tournament building in the Au valley lay dormant for many years, not 100. Last year, it was renovated and gradually revived. On Thursday 7th August, Bad Kissingen’s Mayor, Dr. Dirk Vogel, along with many involved in the renovation, handed over what Vogel called a “technically complex, financially ambitious, and historically significant project” to a vibrant city community during a ceremony.

It was a sublime moment when the Mayor, together with Federal Minister Dorothee Bär, District Administrator Thomas Bold, and the clergy, Catholic Pastor Gerd Greier and Evangelical Lutheran Pastor Michael Greder, cut the red ribbon. Meanwhile, many Bad Kissingen residents were sitting in the newly designed stands on historically restored wooden benches – above them the renewed Bad Kissingen lettering in “the finest Art Deco font to exist in Europe” (Professor Reinhold Haus, German Foundation for Monument Protection) with a view through the white columned gallery out onto the Au, and from below the sounds of the Bad Kissingen Youth Music Corps, later the Blowin’ Horns Big Band.

“A co-production of many” under the responsibility of the city of Bad Kissingen

Shortly before, an equestrian quadrille from the Bad Kissingen Riding Club had ridden in formation in front of the spectators. Bad Kissingen’s ambassadors, the comedian duo Volker Heißmann and Martin Rassau, entertained with humorous contributions. Historical figures strolled up and down. As soon as the red ribbon was cut, a glider from the gliding club flew past the grandstand, carrying the banner “Bad Kissingen Tournament Building.”

Vogel described the renovation work as a ” co-production of many participants ,” including the federal government, the state, the monument preservation authorities, private donors, and the German Foundation for Monument Protection, but also emphasized the responsibility of the city of Bad Kissingen and the ” above-the-top commitment of the city administration ” as key prerequisites for its success. The tournament building symbolizes “a rediscovered pride in a city of Bad Kissingen that believes in itself again, shapes its future with courage and a spirit of optimism, and delivers visible results, and lives its world heritage.”

Federal Minister Dorothee Bär described the tournament building as an ” absolute gem” and “kissed awake from a deep sleep. ” She said it was fantastic that the city, with the support of many supporters, had decided to hold this kissing ceremony.

The theme of Sleeping Beauty’s slumber ran through many of the speeches that day, coordinated by moderator Marcus Lipsius. Christine Schwind, head of the building authority, for example, called the tournament building a “city jewel with history and a future” that is now more alert and beautiful than ever.

The planning team – the Kreische architectural firm and Federlein structural engineering firm, under the project management of Jochen Seufert – recalled the building’s desolate, collapse-prone original condition: “Sleeping Beauty, yes, but you wouldn’t have wanted to kiss this Sleeping Beauty!” For everyone involved, the renovation project has become a “project close to our hearts.”

The renovation is coming to an end, the tournament building is just the beginning

Bad Kissingen’s District Administrator Thomas Bold viewed the project as a “sign that things are looking up in the region,” which motivates the city to implement other projects.
Bold thanked the mayor and city council for their courage, as well as the citizens who contributed. Mayor Vogel had explained to the private donors in a preliminary “sponsorship hour” that their support had “put the icing on the cake.”

Department head Peter Weidisch emphasizes the “authenticity” exuded by the renovated tournament building. Christian Schmidt from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation stated: “Bad Kissingen has impressively demonstrated: They can do world heritage!” The official ceremony was followed by a small wine festival, the band “Zufall” played, and Bad Kissingen residents danced.

The opening of the tournament building marks the end of a twelve-month, €2.5 million renovation project. The tournament building, with its various new uses, is just the beginning. Thursday provided a glimpse into what’s possible.

 

Press contact / Press Contact:

City of Bad Kissingen
Thomas Hack
Rathausplatz 1
97688 Bad Kissingen
T +49 (0)971 807–1010

presse@stadt.badkissingen.de
www.badkissingen.de

Photo / Photos by: Julia Milberger.