Small, non-representative survey among long-established Nurembergers from the past few days: whether they the racecourse in Nuremberg-Reichelsdorf say something The same reaction was always observed. So please, almost everyone knows this historic railway. One put it this way: “It’s part of the city’s identity.”
Of course, none of the interviewees had it in mind that the city planning committee met shortly before Christmas to decide on the fate of precisely this identity feature. Especially not how the vote turned out. For the demolition. With exactly one dissenting vote.
At this point it is worth taking a look at the files. What was the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments recently? The piste, built in 1904, was an “ideal stage for all makes of the bicycle and motorcycle metropolis of Nuremberg, which was important far beyond Germany at the time”. It is of very high historical importance, must be regarded as a technical, urban and sporting historical monument – and as unique in Germany.
How is it possible that in Bavaria the almost complete demolition of a “unique” monument is decided – and hardly anyone gets it? Hard to say. About the year 2016 – when the track was transferred from an association to an investor – the city files contain the laconic sentence: “At that time, the velodrome was not yet recognized as a monument because it was not known to the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation. “
Apparently a process is set in motion. And at the end of it there is now a demolition decision, which is reported in the local newspaper under the headline: “A big step further. Housing construction: The city planning committee approves plans in Wetzendorf, Großgründlach and Reichelsdorf.” Which could be a reason why word of the destruction of monuments has only sparsely gotten around.
It is comforting that the historic railway is now available on the website of the Bavarian State Association for Homeland Care “Teardown of the Year” may elect. At least in hindsight she could still get the attention she deserves. It is observed with concern that monuments that are not on the list of monuments are treated too neglected, says Rudolf Neumaier, the managing director of the association. As sad as the Reichelsdorf case is, it may serve as excellent evidence.