Kipfenberg's Civic and Cultural Center
Die Krone, or the Crown, is the largest building on Kipfenberg’s market square. Once a brewery and popular inn, the Krone is a massive, two-story structure with a steep gable roof. The Krone consists of the main building, a former brewery to the side, and a connecting building at the rear. On the gable side, facing the square, is a three-story avant-corps, or bay-window-like structure. On the eaves side, to the right, is a short extension. Inside the main building, we find a beautiful, large hall with a wraparound gallery, spanned by a wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling. The wood in the truss which supports the roof and the wood in the beamed ceiling on the upper floor, indicate that the Krone was built in the second half of the 16th century.
An Old Brewery
The first brewer we know of was active as early as 1631. It was common at the time, that Kipfenberg innkeepers brewed their own beer, ran a farm, had a butcher shop, and often grew their own hops.
The Krone remained in the possession of related families until the end of the 19th century. There were many difficult times. For example, in 1866, when Bavaria and its ally Austria were waging war against Prussia, a devastating fire broke out in the Krone and spread quickly, threatening also the neighboring buildings. Back then, there was no local fire department, and ordinary citizens had to fight the fire. Luckily, however, a military regiment just happened to be stationed in the village that day. The soldiers immediately grabbed fire buckets, and together with the townspeople, they were able to bring the fire under control. Still, the damage to the Krone was enormous. At the very top of the eastern side wall is a small plaque commemorating this event. The Krone was, and remains, very popular with the people of Kipfenberg, especially since October 4th, 1924, when the owners opened the large hall, with a stage suitable for concerts and theater performances.
Civic Center
In the year 2000, following the death of the last innkeeper, the Krone became the property of the market town of Kipfenberg. After extensive renovation and modernization, the "Kipfenberg Civic and Cultural Center", as it is now called, was opened in the rooms of the old inn. Theatrical performances by our local amateur theater group, sponsored alternately by our Kolping Society and our Trachtenverein, have been taking place in the Krone nearly every year, usually filled to capacity. In case you are wondering, the Kolping Society is an international Christian society founded in Germany in 1846, and a Trachtenverein is an organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional Bavarian dress, music, and customs. Due to the renovation of our Town Hall, our mayor and local government, together with the tourist office, are housed temporarily in the Krone. The building will again be fully open to the public once the renovation of the town hall has been completed. Thereafter, local cultural activities, including theater presentations and concerts, will return. The hall and foyer will again be available to be rented for private events.
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