Eifgen House

Back then…
Eifgen House was opened in July 1888 as the center of the "Municipal Parks on the Eifgen." Located a 15-minute walk from the Wermelskirchen town center, it was for many years a popular destination for tourists, families, groups, and clubs from Wermelskirchen and neighboring towns. Initially owned by the town, it housed a restaurant with a bandstand, fountain, and children's playground, a park, a bathing establishment, and a function room with a piano. Hot and cold dishes were offered both inside and outside, with fresh milk and eggs provided by the house's own cow and chickens.

In 1906, a large event hall with space for 200 guests was added, and in 1928 the "Eifgen Sports Field" (today the "Dönges Stadium") was inaugurated, with the Eifgen House serving as the club's headquarters. In addition to its restaurant, the house also hosted dances and music events, and after the wars, the Eifgen House also served as a military hospital.

It's been a long time, times have changed. After the "Badeanstalt" (public bathing establishment) closed in the late 1970s in favor of other outdoor pools in Dabringhausen and the Eschbach Valley, the restaurant soon became unprofitable. Various tenants tried different concepts until 2015, and it became a popular party venue in the Bergisches Land region. But these concepts also failed in the long run, and so the building stood empty from autumn 2015 onwards, threatening to fall into disrepair.

…today
In February 2017, the non-profit organization Kulturinitiative Wermelskirchen e.V. took over the building and transformed it into a "music, culture, and community center." The concert garden, with its large outdoor stage and now 200 covered seats and standing room, as well as the high-quality indoor stage, accommodates all kinds of concerts – from Irish folk to hard rock, from solo artists to big bands. Over 100 concerts annually, private parties, regular meetings, and events hosted by other initiatives and associations have since filled the building with life, making it one of the most popular live music venues in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In December 2019, following the example of the "Gaststätte Jäger eG" in Hülsenbusch, the members founded a cooperative, the "Kulturhaus Eifgen eG," to purchase the building and preserve it as a cultural center. In September 2021, the center was accepted into the State Association of Sociocultural Centers of North Rhine-Westphalia and, thanks to funding from the Federal Association of Sociocultural Centers, was able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic successfully.
 
…and tomorrow
Outside of event days, the building is closed, as the entirely volunteer-run operation (currently) cannot offer its own catering services. Founder and chairman Michael Dierks developed a long-term business plan as the basis for establishing the cooperative. In just five years, the total number of members in the association and cooperative grew from 21 to over 300. A core group of approximately 30 members dedicates their free time to organization, maintenance, rentals, events, and catering. Now, they want to reopen the building to hiking tourists. The restaurant, with seating for 20 guests, the sun terrace, and the large beer garden are planned to reopen regularly to hikers starting in 2023. Coffee and cake, light snacks, and cool drinks will then await visitors at the end of a wonderful excursion into the Bergisches Land region, who can also look forward to one of the numerous concerts featuring international artists. However, given the current crises and rising costs, these plans are uncertain. It would be wonderful, though!

Here you will find information about events and concerts. 

Between March and October, you can also easily reach Haus Eifgen by taking the Bergisch Hiking Bus .