Question: Ever wondered about a temple with a misleading name? That’s the Lilitempel. It is a gem nestled in Offenbach. Many know it as a place touched by Goethe’s presence. But its story goes beyond a poet’s romance.
The Lilitempel stands as a former classical bathhouse. It belonged to Frankfurt banker Friedrich Metzler. The temple’s construction dates back to 1798. Nicolas Alexandre Salins de Montfort was the architect. He was a Frenchman residing in Frankfurt since 1792. The Lilitempel is considered Montfort’s only preserved work in the Rhine-Main area.
Popular belief links the name “Lili” to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s fiancée. Her name was Anna Elisabeth Schoenemann. Goethe met her in the park in 1775. However, the temple didn’t exist at that time. So, the name is a bit of a misnomer. The park was named Lili Park much later. It happened on the 100th anniversary of Goethe’s death in 1932.
Originally, the Lilitempel was directly on the Main River. People could bathe in the Main’s waters in its grotto-like basement. The construction of streets and flood protection dams changed this in the 19th century. The temple lost its direct access to the river.
The building features two main sections. There is a bathhouse and a tea house. The area covers 250 square meters. It rises about seven meters high. The basement is made of granite blocks. It is semi-circular towards the Main. Two windows once offered views of the river. Inside, there were rooms, a plunge pool, a heating system, and a cold-water reservoir. Some called the bath a “marble bath”. There were reports of mirror panels. Today, nothing remains of this decor.
The ground floor served as a garden pavilion. A three-step staircase leads to the rotunda. This was the former entrance. A connecting passage led to a hall. The rotunda provided access to the grotto, the basement, and the roof. A portico with Corinthian columns opens the rotunda to the garden.
The grotto is formed by piled-up rock blocks. There was also a greenhouse. It is no longer there. The hall has an oval shape. Its original features included a marble fireplace and silk-covered walls. Intricate mechanisms controlled the salon’s windows. A semi-circular balcony faced the Main. It had a balustrade and Ionic columns.
In 1951, the city of Offenbach acquired the temple and park. For the first time, it became publicly accessible. In 2004, Volker Hohmann leased the building. He restored it extensively. Architect Christopher Pierre Hefele oversaw the restoration. The official opening took place in 2007. In 2008, Hohmann received the Hessian Monument Protection Prize.
In 2016, the temple was sold to a consulting firm. However, the city can still use the space for cultural events. The new owner also plans art-related events. The Lilitempel stands as a testament to Offenbach’s rich history. It reflects the wealth and refined taste of its past owners.