40 years of Varnbüler Castle: Hemmingen celebrates a historical legacy!

40 years of Varnbüler Castle: Hemmingen celebrates a historical legacy!

There is something great to celebrate in Hemmingen! On October 26, 2025, the 40th anniversary of Varnbüler Castle as a town hall was honored with an open day. The history of the impressive building goes back to the 14th century, when the Old Castle was first mentioned in documents. Mayor Thomas Schäfer warmly thanked the Varnbüler family for the opportunity to use the castle as a town hall since 1985 and thus provide the citizens with an important site. Over the years, the castle has developed into a center of the community, while the adjacent castle park serves as a green heart for the Hemmingers.

The Varnbüler Castle was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. Originally it was a four-story building that was built by the local nobility of Hemmingen. Interestingly, it can be assumed that the castle was preceded by a Fronhof building. The new building with its striking two-story substructure was built in 1542. The castle has undergone numerous changes over the centuries, including being badly damaged during the War of the Palatinate Succession. A major renovation in the 18th century gave the Old Castle a baroque splendor with various structural additions.

A place with history and future

The initiative to use Varnbüler Castle as a town hall has proven to be an important step for the community. The castle park, which is accessible to citizens, reinforces the feeling of community and public space. After extensive renovations, the castle was inaugurated as a town hall in 1985 and has since played an important role in the everyday life of the citizens of Hemmingen. It not only manages administrative operations, but also hosts events that promote social life in the community.

The promotion of historical buildings, such as Varnbüler Castle, is on the agenda not only in Hemmingen, but in many cities. An examination of urban monument protection shows that a total of 716 million euros in federal financial aid was provided from 2009 to 2015. These funds have supported numerous efforts to preserve and revitalize historic city centers to ensure that these valuable architectural heirlooms are preserved. In the old federal states, of which Hemmingen is one, the focus is on the preservation of buildings that characterize the townscape.

However, the challenges should not be underestimated: There is often a lack of financial resources and clear usage concepts for large historical building complexes. In order to reduce the renovation backlog in the long term, innovative approaches and a good hand on the part of the municipalities are needed. With the castle, Hemmingen has created a positive exception that can serve as an example for other cities.

In summary, Varnbüler Castle is much more than just a town hall. It is part of Hemmingen's history and identity and shows how a historic building can be given new life through clever use and community engagement. So when you celebrate 40 years of town hall history, you also celebrate the spirit of the citizens who have made it a bit more alive.