Former Altchemnitz river baths
The former river bath in Altchemnitz is one of the intervention areas of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. The project is part of the "City by the River" project, in which various watercourses in the city are brought back to life.
Pedestrian bridge completed
Another intervention area of the European Capital of Culture 2025 was completed on 20 December 2024. The new public green space at the former Flussbad, at Schulstraße 60 in Altchemnitz, including the new pedestrian bridge, is now open for use.
Event notice: Winter walk
To mark the completion of this construction project, the Parks Department, in cooperation with the Chemnitz Süd & Chemnitz Mitte citizens' platforms, invites you to a winter walk between the districts of Altchemnitz and Markersdorf on Saturday, 11 January 2025 at 13:30. The meeting point is the new entrance to the bridge at Schulstraße 60.
The walk will focus on the history of the city park and former river baths, flood protection, water development, nature conservation, sport, recreation and the construction project as part of the Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.
Lifting in the pedestrian bridge
On 25 June 2024, the new pedestrian bridge was lifted into place at the site of the former bridge in the former Altchemnitz river baths. The bridge is an integral steel structure around 61 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. It was assembled from three bridge segments in around three hours. This re-establishes a connection between the southern part of the city park and the housing estates to the east of the Chemnitz.
In addition, various usable recreational areas will be created between Schulstrasse and the city park. A dynamic and active sports area will be created in the entrance area on Schulstrasse. In the area of the city park, on the other hand, individual seating elements and design accents reminiscent of the former river pool invite people to linger and relax.
The planting of 42 standard trees and 415 shrubs as well as the creation of a wet meadow with an area of around 3,500 square metres round off the design of the public green space at the former Flussbad. Particular attention is being paid to the sustainable and ecological maintenance of this part of the city park - even beyond the Capital of Culture year 2025. Recreation, flood protection and nature conservation are to enter into a fruitful symbiosis here in the long term.
In compliance with the strict requirements of the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the Lower Water Authority, a park with a high quality of stay will be created that re-establishes the connection to the river and the surrounding landscape.
Construction site impressions from 17 May 2024
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Tradition river bathing
River bathing has a long tradition in Chemnitz. At least since the opening of the municipal "river, air, sun and swimming pool on the Chemnitz in today's Altchemnitz district in 1922, the place has been extremely popular with bathing enthusiasts. For decades, the riverside pool was one of the most popular outdoor pools in the city of Chemnitz. Today - almost 20 years after the complete dismantling of the bathing facilities, which were badly damaged by the 2002 floods - there is nothing left to remind us of this tradition, a place that seems to have fallen into oblivion.
The southern city park
The southern city park was laid out from 1910 by horticultural director Otto Werner and represents a "green corridor" from Chemnitz city centre to the foothills of the Ore Mountains.
The area south of today's Südring was not completed due to the war and was later used as the Altchemnitz riverside baths. After the river baths were abandoned and the pedestrian bridge there was demolished, this part of the city park was only accessible for recreation to a limited extent and showed clear maintenance deficits - also from an ecological point of view.
However, as the Würschnitz and Zwönitz rivers join to form the Chemnitz in the immediate vicinity, this site represents a central intervention area of the Capital of Culture project "Stadt am Fluss".
The project
As part of the "City on the River" project, which will culminate in the European Capital of Culture 2025, the river is to be brought back to life. The leisure and recreational potential of the floodplain will be enhanced on both sides of the river and access to the area will be improved by a new bridge. However, the bridge is not only a connecting element, but also an architectural attraction and a vantage point for viewing the Chemnitz, which is being redesigned in a natural way by the state dam administration.
Riverness
The area called "Flussness" will be dedicated to "active recreation". Young and old alike can go running, inline skating, scootering or cycling there, for example. There will also be sports equipment and games, including hurdles, beams and balancing trails. The riverside path leads through the "Luftbad" wind water in the area of the demolished swimming pool. Even from a distance, you will see the striking bathing equipment glowing red between the treetops.
Wellnitz
The "Wellnitz", consisting of four wave-shaped wooden decks that invite you to sunbathe, linger and relax, will be another feature that gives the new riverside pool its identity. To make this pleasant in summer too, shade trees and groups of trees will be planted to create cosy places to relax.
Timetable and costs
On 13 September 2023, the city council decided to upgrade the former river pool in the southern part of Chemnitz City Park. Construction is scheduled to run from January to December 2024 so that the first visitors can experience the river in the title year.
Following a public tender, the city of Chemnitz awarded the contract to the company Phönix-Bau GmbH from Aue-Bad Schlema with a sum of 2.22 million euros. Jäger und Bothe Ingenieure GmbH from Chemnitz was commissioned with the planning and construction supervision of the pedestrian bridge and Rehwaldt Landschaftsarchitekten from Dresden with the planning and construction supervision of the open space. The total planning costs (including other planning services) amount to around 380,000 euros.
The construction work should be completed by the end of this year. The maintenance work will continue until the end of October 2025.
Information event on 21 June 2023
On Wednesday, 21 June, interested citizens, primarily from the districts of Altchemnitz and Markersdorf, were invited to an information event followed by a discussion in the open space next to the farm building at Schulstraße 60. The Capital of Culture project "Former Altchemnitz river baths" was presented.
On the open space next to the former farm building at Schulstraße 60, representatives of the City of Chemnitz and the Saxony State Reservoir Administration presented the current planning status, provided insights into drafts and detailed illustrations and provided information on the construction schedule. Afterwards, those present were invited to contribute their suggestions and ideas.