Question: What if a building could tell tales of destruction and rebirth? That building stands before us. It is the Alte Aussegnungshalle.
This hall is not just a building. It is a testament to Munich’s resilience. The Alte Aussegnungshalle has a story etched in its very stones.
Originally part of the Ostfriedhof complex the Alte Aussegnungshalle suffered heavy damage during World War II. The war left it a mere shell of its former self. In 1951 and 1952, architect Hans Döllgast undertook the task of rebuilding it. He did so in a simplified style.
Döllgast was also involved in the reconstruction of the Alte Pinakothek. His approach to reconstruction was unique. He sought to integrate the building’s history. This included its destruction and subsequent rebuilding.
The Auer Friedhof Chapel was destroyed during the war. The badly damaged Alte Aussegnungshalle was rebuilt by Hans Döllgast. He simplified it in the process.
The Alte Aussegnungshalle’s Kuppelgemälde is impressive. Its dome measures 20 meters in diameter. Only the Pantheon in Rome and the Befreiungshalle in Kelheim have larger domes in Europe.
The Alte Aussegnungshalle once served as a film set. The interior was used in the TV series Kir Royal. It stood in for the fictional Nobelrestaurant Villa Medici.
After the war, the once-grand cascades fell into disuse. They remained so for a long time due to war damage. But, in 2017, they were finally restored.
Today, the Alte Aussegnungshalle stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of Munich’s past and its ability to rise from the ashes. It is also a place of farewell. The Alte Aussegnungshalle offers solace and reflection.