Alte Feuerwache

As Cologne grew beyond its medieval boundaries in the late 19th century, the Agnesviertel district was created in the north. One of the first buildings to be erected there was a new main fire station to meet the standards of the growing city. Accordingly, the area takes up an area that would otherwise be reserved for an entire block of houses and is therefore a large building complex. How else could the fire department's heavy equipment have been housed and maneuvered or drills carried out for emergencies without the appropriate halls and inner courtyard?

The different areas of the station can still be identified today. The four-storey riser tower stands out most obviously. Other parts, such as the stable gates, can be recognized by architectural elements, in this case the round windows.

From functional building to meeting place

In addition to its function, the fire station ensemble is also a representative building. Red and yellow brick and decorative iron anchors adorn the façade. The Wilhelminian-style building is consequently a listed building.
Today, the "Tatü-Tata" of the fire department no longer resounds through the interior of the station.

After the fire brigade moved to a new, modern site in the 1970s, the Bürgerzentrum Alte Feuerwehr e.V. association took over the site. This association was founded and campaigned for the preservation and conversion of the station into a community center. Since then, the Alte Feuerwache has been a place for local residents, offering a wide range of opportunities for participation and activities. A place where people can meet and exchange ideas. The inner courtyard and the adjoining café/restaurant in particular, as well as the regular flea markets, give visitors a nice impression of this charmingly unpretentious place.