ADVERTISING
THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) is once again enabling regular visits to the cultural monument
The beer cellar beneath the beer garden on Dieburger Straße in Darmstadt has been successfully secured. With the help of the ), access to the listed rock cellar has been restored. Michael Kolmer, the city's , inspected the completed safety measures on Wednesday, January 14th, and thanked the THW volunteers for their efforts.
Damage caused by erosion in the historic rock cellar
Beneath the beer garden lies the former rock cellar of the Gebrüder Wiener brewery, dating back to the mid-19th century. Natural erosion had caused considerable damage to the retaining wall and the cellar entrance. Parts of the vault hewn into the rock had broken away, and access was blocked by scree. Since further collapses could not be ruled out, the cellar was no longer safely accessible via the stairs. The danger extended beyond the property line.
Reversible locking enables checks
Emergency stabilization measures were implemented at the end of 2025. The THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) cleared debris from the approximately six-by-seven-meter and up to four-meter-high front basement area. Additionally, a debris barrier in the form of a freestanding, reversible wooden structure was erected. This will allow for regular inspections in the future, enabling the early detection of any further damage and the elimination of risks to adjacent public areas.
The measures were carried out as part of an administrative assistance procedure in coordination with the owner of the beer garden and the historic preservation authority. The contact between the historic preservation authority and the THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) was established, among others, through the former Darmstadt historic preservation officer Nikolaus Heiss, who facilitated the cooperation.
The city will cover the costs of the measure
The resulting expenses for materials and fees, amounting to approximately 2,500 euros, were covered by municipal subsidies due to the public interest in the rock cellar, which is classified as a cultural monument.
Cultural monument with history
The former rock cellar of the Gebrüder Wiener brewery, along with its associated retaining wall, is listed as a cultural monument under the Hessian Monument Protection Act for both technical and historical reasons. Behind the late 19th-century cyclopean masonry, access leads to a long, main vaulted chamber, supplemented by further passages and cellar rooms that formerly served to cool the beer. Parts of the historic connecting passages are now filled in.
City Councillor Kolmer emphasized that the cooperation between the THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) and the heritage preservation authority has made regular inspections of the cellar possible again. This also brings the prospect of offering the popular beer cellar tours in Darmstadt back in the future closer. However, patience is still required until further details, particularly regarding safety regulations, are clarified.
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/Stip)
