Stadtbad Halle: A monument from the Art Nouveau era is being revived!

Stadtbad Halle: A monument from the Art Nouveau era is being revived!

The Halle municipal swimming pool, a true jewel of Art Nouveau and the only surviving swimming pool of its kind in Saxony-Anhalt, is about to undergo comprehensive renovation! From 2025, the historic building, which was once considered one of the most modern pools in Europe, will shine in new splendor. The people of Halle have fought hard to ensure that their beloved facility is not closed forever. One of the loyal fighters is 84-year-old Elke Scharnowski, who managed the pool from 1983 to 2005 and saw how the decline progressed inexorably.

“When I started, the city pool was in very poor condition because hardly anything had been done to maintain it for decades,” remembers Scharnowski. The former splendor of the city pool, which opened in 1916, has shrunk significantly in recent decades. Scharnowski describes the frightening situation: “It didn’t take long before the window glass came out of the dome in the women’s hall and down into the pool.” Tragic but true – the historic windows were simply covered with sheet metal!

A place full of memories

The Halle municipal pool was not only a place for swimming, but also a center for community. The men's swimming pool housed Germany's first competitive 25-meter pool, where generations of children learned to swim and national competitions took place. Scharnowski looks back with sadness: “We were a close-knit community that did everything we could to keep the city pool open.” The memories of happy Christmas parties and singing Christmas carols at the edge of the pool remain unforgettable.

Now, with the upcoming renovation project, there is hope for a new era for the city pool. The people of Halle can look forward to a modern and revitalized bathroom that at the same time preserves the history and charm of the past. The long battle for the Halle municipal swimming pool could soon be crowned with a brilliant victory!