60,000 euros for Augsburg's listed roundhouse!

60,000 euros for Augsburg's listed roundhouse!

There is movement in monument preservation again in the city of Augsburg. An important press event will take place on October 9, 2025 at 11 a.m., at which Rudolf Amann, the local curator of the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD), will present a symbolic funding agreement for 60,000 euros for the conservation of the wooden window gates on the northern roundhouse. This building, which was built between 1904 and 1906, is one of the few that has been preserved in its original condition and represents an important piece of Augsburg's railway history.

The northern roundhouse is part of the former railway depot, which played a central role in the development of station traffic in Bavaria until the opening of the Munich-Augsburg railway in 1840. The historical ensemble has been supported by the DSD since 2014, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The DSD has supported more than 640 monuments in Bavaria, and the Ringlokschuppen is a shining example of this.

Monument preservation and its importance

According to the Bavarian Monument Protection Act (BayDSchG), monuments are man-made things from the past whose preservation is of interest to the general public. This applies not only to structures, but also to garden designs and furnishings. Ensemble monuments, where the entire townscape should be preserved, enjoy special protection. This is particularly clear in Augsburg, because the former railway depot combines various buildings such as the warehouse, wheelset repair halls, forges and the boiler house, all of which were built between 1906 and 1924.

With regard to the preservation of architectural monuments, the BayDSchG imposes comprehensive obligations on the owners, including preservation and proper treatment. Changes to an architectural monument require special permission; Without this, important monument protection issues could be jeopardized.

Experience railway history

The railway depot is not only a historical relic, but also a lively cultural place. The Bahnpark Augsburg gGmbH runs a culture and museum project here with locomotives from all over Europe. With an original capacity of 31 locomotive stalls and the characteristic building architecture, including the perforated brick facade and wooden longwalls, the northern roundhouse offers a unique insight into the history of steam locomotive operation.

The unique shape of the building - a semicircle with a turntable in front and star tracks - shows the adaptations to the technical conditions of the time and is an impressive testimony to the engineering skill of that time. The turntable, added in 1922, was used to rotate the locomotives and distribute them to the appropriate vehicle stands. The local connection to railway history is of enormous importance in Augsburg, both culturally and historically.

This funding not only preserves a part of history, but also paves the way for future generations to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of railways. For those interested, the press event is a good opportunity to find out about the progress in monument protection and to appreciate the excellent work of the DSD. Information about the event and monument protection policy in Bavaria can also be found on the platforms of the German Foundation for Monument Protection and the City of Augsburg.