EEstablishing cooperation with colleagues in the administration in neighboring Rockenberg, softening the very hard water from the four fountains in Münzenberg, finding a solution for the town hall in Gambach, which looks like it has fallen out of time: all of this is mentioned by the head of the town hall, Isabell Tammer, when she opens major projects is addressed. And the mayor of the FWG has another project on her list. She wants to strengthen the tourist infrastructure of her place. The main focus is on a visitor center for the Münzenberg Castle.
The ruins are managed and looked after by the State Palaces and Gardens based in Bad Homburg. The castle from the Staufer period is one of 48 properties in their portfolio. But not just any: As a spokeswoman for the palace administration says, the ruins, affectionately known as the “Wetterau Inkwell”, are the “most visited” location. However, guests have so far had to live with a minimum offer on the spot. The small kiosk right behind the gate sells soft drinks, ice cream, sausages and cakes.
If you want to linger and eat and drink something at a table, you have to leave the castle and look for a restaurant in the village. Many a visitor makes do with a picnic blanket and the provisions they have brought with them and sits on the green in the ruins in the shade of one of the mighty keep from the 12th century. After rain or in bad weather, this is not really a good idea.
First rough cost estimate
In order to further enhance the castle as an excursion destination, the small town has now acquired a plot of land near the ruins that is suitable for the building project, as the head of the town hall says. There is even a first rough cost estimate. Last but not least, there is a draft plan for the visitor center that has been coordinated with the city of Münzenberg, as the spokeswoman for the palace administration adds. But when Tammer and representatives from Bad Homburg will put the work out to tender, call the craftsmen and set up the visitor center remains to be seen.
Again, there are two reasons for this. On the one hand, the palace administration is in the same situation as other builders: the construction costs are running away from them. According to the spokeswoman, the announced amount has more than doubled since the first calculation. Accordingly, the palace administration could initially count on around one million euros. In the course of the concrete planning, however, the amount increased to 1.4 million euros for the conversion of the building. Including expenses for planning and outdoor facilities, 2.2 million euros are now in question, as it is said in Bad Homburg. And: “These costs cannot be financed from the current budget.”
Tammer doesn’t want to give up that easily
Anyone who thinks that the expansion could be something next year could be wrong. Because the current budget means the state’s double budget for 2023 and 2024. The palace administration can therefore only register construction costs for the visitor center with a view to the state budget for 2025, i.e. next year. “Unfortunately, we cannot currently give a date for the start of construction or a possible opening date,” said the spokeswoman for the palace administration.
But Tammer doesn’t want to give up that easily. She hopes to get the project off the ground before 2025. According to her, the cooperation of a citizen who is committed and knowledgeable in construction matters should serve this goal. This man is working out a proposal on how the construction costs could be reduced.
Meanwhile, the palace administration is examining “additional sources of funding”. For example, this could amount to attracting an investor for the visitor center. Irrespective of this, the State Office for Construction and Real Estate Hesse would have to be involved. He owns the castle ruins that literally stand out from the Wetterau. It was originally built as a sign of the Staufer claim to power, who provided the Roman-German kings and emperors between the 11th and 13th centuries.