Former Fire Station
Goldkronach’s Fire Brigade used the fire station near the market place from 1971 to 2000. The building became superfluous, however, when the fire brigade moved into a larger building.
In many towns, former public buildings become problematic and sometimes derelict, and unfortunately, the same occurred here: the town council of Goldkronach found it difficult to find new uses for this building.
In 2005, the artist couple ‘Wunderlich’ discovered the former fire station.
They were enthralled by the space, which offered them everything they needed for their creative activities.
Spacious rooms were available for large-scale works by the church painter Volker Wunderlich; similarly, work rooms and seminar rooms existed for the calligrapher Andrea Wunderlich, and all this in the centre of town.
From then on, the former fire station was no longer a problem: instead, it provides a cultural enrichment for Goldkronach.
Andrea Wunderlich, in addition to her freelance activities, has invited calligraphers from around the world to international symposia in Goldkronach.
For the last few years, the atmospheric annual September wine festival has taken place in the courtyard of Atelier Wunderlich.
The volunteer fire department (FFW) of Goldkronach …
… was founded in 1872. Sixty men declared their membership and thus laid the foundation for an organization whose mission is to protect the belongings of others.
The founding of the fire brigade was probably motivated by the two terrible fires of 1836 and 1839. These two fires destroyed nearly the whole town, depriving some inhabitants of all their possessions.
Although fires still occurred, they could be dealt with more quickly and effectively by the organized volunteer fire brigade, thus preventing the overwhelming destruction of previous fires.
Such devastating fires became a thing of the past – although of course fires still occurred . The purchase of a pressure sprayer in 1876 represented a significant development for the town’s fire protection. Over the years, the technical equipment belonging to the volunteer fire department has been constantly updated and improved.
The photograph shows the Goldkronacher team in the 1900s.
In September of 1971, Goldkronach’s firefighters moved from the original fire station located in the town hall into the newly-built fire station in front of you. In 1993, the attic was renovated, creating a classroom and training
centre. In 2000, the volunteer fire department moved into another newly-built, larger fire station. This building not only houses a great many trucks and technical machines, but also provides an opportunity for education and training for the volunteer fire department of Goldkronach as well as for the fire brigades from the surrounding villages.
However, all of these purchases and improvements would be useless without citizens with idealism who sacrifice their free time to volunteer for the general good.
Source: Chronicle of the FFW Goldkronach
Artwork by calligrapher Andrea Wunderlich
In 2010, the freelance calligrapher Andrea Wunderlich received the Top Culture Award from the region surrounding Bayreuth.
Andrea Wunderlich specialises in large-scale wall calligraphy. Some of her origial pieces are in the collection of the Museum for Contemporary Calligraphy in Moscow.
Artwork by Volker Wunderlich
Trained as a master church painter, Volker Wunderlich is commissioned to create murals and decorations for customers nationally and internationally. Since 2003 he has offered training courses in trompe d’oeil painting, classic painting techniques, and life drawing.
In addition to commissioned work, he devotes himself to abstract painting.
Volker Wunderlich’s work can be seen in many places in Germany and Europe. He also takes part in symposia across Europe.
Atelier Wunderlich
Short documentary about the new lease of life for the old fire station
The Voluntary Fire Brigade
Life in the countryside would be unimaginable without the services of the Voluntary Fire Brigade. Traditionally responsible for fighting fires, the fire brigade nowadays also provides technical help during flooding, car accidents, and other emergencies. The local fire brigade is deployed 30 to 40 times a year.
The voluntary fire department also contributes greatly to the social life of the town and its surrounding area with Open House Days, demonstrations, celebrations and much more.
