Fritz Koenigs Ganslberg: An art paradise opens its doors!

Fritz Koenigs Ganslberg: An art paradise opens its doors!

The Ganslberg in Altdorf, Landshut district, is celebrating a special renaissance these months as the refuge of the artist Fritz Koenig. The visual artist, who lived between 1924 and 2017, has shaped the art world with his works. The “Kosmos Koenig” event series offers an extensive program of exhibitions and workshops until the end of July 2023 to properly celebrate the artist’s 100th birthday. Interested visitors can view the property, Koenig's home and workshop, which represents a significant step towards ending the decades-long debate about the future of the buildings and striving for sustainable use. At the opening, Art Minister Markus Blume (CSU) expressed his hope for the long-term and creative use of this important cultural location after the buildings had been empty for a while following Koenig's death.

The exhibition particularly focuses on impressive films and unpublished film material by the director Percy Adlon, a close friend of Koenig, who died in March 2024. His son Felix and his widow Eleonore are continuing the project together with the city of Landshut and the Fritz and Maria Koenig Foundation. This collaboration is intended not only to preserve Koenig's artistic treasure, but also to promote an art education center that enables school classes to carry out creative experiments.

Opening times and program

The Ganslberg is open to the public from June 3rd to the end of July 2025 and opens its doors every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During this time, the ball hall, the four-sided courtyard - including the living area, workshop and stables - and the Africa hall can be viewed from the inside. The large collection presentation not only shows Koenig's impressive large-scale sculptures in their original locations around the courtyard, but also a special scenography that includes moving images and sound installations by Fritz and Maria Koenig as well as contemporary witnesses.

The Kugelhalle has also established itself as a central event location. Lectures, panel discussions and film evenings take place here regularly, keeping Koenig's creative work alive. A detailed program booklet will be published under the title “KOSMOS KOENIG”, which also offers workshops and guided tours in the area, especially in the KOENIGmuseum and the Neustadthaus in Landshut. Many of these events can be easily booked online, making planning easy for anyone interested.

A legacy of great importance

Fritz Koenig was born in Würzburg and grew up in Landshut. As a professor of architecture, he is considered one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. His best-known works include the memorial in the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial in Austria and the sculpture “Spherical Caryatid N.Y.”, ​​which stood in a memorable location in front of the World Trade Center in New York and was installed at the memorial to the victims of terrorism after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The initiative to revitalize the Ganslberg shows that Fritz Koenig's legacy should not only be preserved, but also actively integrated into the community. The combination of art, education and memory in this unique place will not only keep the memory of the artist alive, but also inspire future generations.

For further information about the events and exhibitions at Ganslberg, please visit the website antenna and Ganslberg Museums Landshut.