Stephanienbad, Church building in Beiertheim district, Karlsruhe, Germany
The Stephanienbad is a three-story classical building originally designed as a bathhouse and restaurant. The ground floor contained a large dance hall with viewing galleries positioned along the sides for observation and socializing.
Friedrich Weinbrenner constructed this building between 1811 and 1817, naming it after Grand Duchess Stephanie de Beauharnais of Baden. It was built as a modern venue for public bathing and entertainment during that period.
The building became the Paul Gerhardt Community Center in 1957 and has served as a Protestant gathering space since then. The rooms continue to host events and draw visitors who want to experience how this former public facility transformed into a religious hub.
The building is located at Breite Strasse 49a in Karlsruhe and is open to visitors with guided tours available. It is wise to check opening times in advance since these may vary depending on the season or special events.
During World War I, student associations secretly held forbidden fencing matches inside this building. This hidden activity made the site known beyond Karlsruhe and gave it an unexpected place in regional student history.
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