Established in 1857 the Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium stands proudly before you. It’s Chemnitz’s oldest gymnasium. A testament to enduring education. This impressive building has witnessed a century and a half of learning. It has seen countless students pass through its halls.
The Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium started as a Realschule. It was led by Direktor Carl August Caspari. It opened on October 13 1857. The school quickly outgrew its initial location on Poststrasse. A new building was needed. After just twelve years a new school building opened on Reitbahnstrasse. The growing student population necessitated another move.
By 1871 the school became a Realgymnasium I Ordnung. Later it was simply called Realgymnasium. In 1912 a Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein was formed by students. Student numbers surged again. Architect Emil Ebert was commissioned to design a new building in 1914. World War I delayed construction.
Finally in 1929 the new Realgymnasium opened. It’s a striking neoclassical brick building. It’s situated on the grounds of the former Johannisfriedhof. The building features reliefs and ceramics by Heinrich Brenner. The youthful sculptures flanking the entrance are by Bruno Ziegler. One model was Moritz Goldhaber a student who became a physicist.
The Nazi era saw the dissolution of student associations. In 1936 the upper sculptures were removed. Their models were of Jewish heritage. The school was renamed Horst-Wessel-Schule in 1938. World War II interrupted education. Many teachers and students were conscripted. The school building miraculously survived a bombing raid in 1945.
Regular Abitur exams resumed in 1946. The school was renamed Karl-Marx-Oberschule in 1949. This reflected the school’s status in the GDR. After German reunification the Förderverein Realgymnasium was founded in 1991. The school underwent renovation. In 1992 1993 it became a gymnasium again. It was renamed the Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium. New portal sculptures replaced those removed during the Nazi era. These were created by Erik Neukirchner. The school’s organ was also restored.
Celebrations marked the 150th and 160th anniversaries in 2007 and 2017. A commemorative plaque honors Irmtraud Morgner a former student. The Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium Chemnitz continues to educate and inspire. It stands as a symbol of Chemnitz’s rich history. It’s a place where learning thrives. It’s a legacy that continues to shape the future.