Ever wondered where locals once sought solace and healing? That is the Freisebad. Let me tell you about this historic bathhouse.
The Freisebad, located on Dr.-Kahlbaum-Allee in Görlitz, was founded in 1887. Dr. Walther Freise, a sanitation councillor from Magdeburg, established it as a cold-water healing institute. It was near the Tivoli and Kahlbaum’s sanatorium. The Freisebad joined Hoffmann’s bathhouse and the Zentralbad as one of the city’s three bathhouses.
Dr. Freise previously worked as an assistant physician at the hospital on Berliner Straße. In 1885, he started his own practice on the Promenade. This promenade was a popular spot for Görlitz residents. It stretched from the city, past the park, to the Blockhaus by the Neisse viaduct.
Freise’s institute offered various treatments. These included tub, steam, and hot-air baths. They also provided brine, pine-needle, herb, and moor baths using Franzensbad moor earth. Electric light and carbon dioxide baths were also available. From the beginning, there was a swimming pool. It suited both swimmers and non-swimmers. The pool was seven meters wide and 15 meters long. Its depth ranged from 2.80 meters to a shallower end.
Dr. Walther Freise managed the Freisebad until 1905. Due to financial losses, he handed it over to an association. The association ran it until 1919. Despite city subsidies since 1901, the bathhouse remained unprofitable. The association offered to sell the Freisebad to the city. The city took over operations on April 1, 1920.
The Freisebad continued operating after World War II. It eventually included a steam bath, sauna, showers, tubs, a solarium, and the swimming pool. However, the city closed the Freisebad on March 31, 1996.
In 2009, the city secured the large chimney at the rear. They also made necessary repairs to the roof and drainage. The city stated that the roof needed complete renovation. The bathhouse required a thorough refurbishment. Unfortunately, the city lacked the funds.
In June 2009, a concert was planned at the Freisebad as part of the 14th Jazztage Görlitz. The event was moved to the old machine factory of the Waggonbau. That same year, the bathhouse opened its doors for the Day of Monuments. The Freisebad even served as a filming location for “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
There were plans to reactivate the Freisebad. It would become a competence center for dementia patients. It was called the Kahlbaum Project. The plans also included reopening the bathhouse to the public. However, these plans were put on hold in 2011.
The Freisebad is more than just an old bathhouse. It represents Görlitz’s history. It was a place of healing and community. Though closed, its story lives on. The Freisebad remains a significant part of Görlitz’s heritage. Dr. Freise’s vision shaped healthcare here.