Ludwig-Thoma-Haus: the future is still open

Created: 05/19/2022, 10:00 am

By: Gerti Reichl

Has been renovated but remains closed: the Ludwig-Thoma-Haus in Tegernsee, the last residence of the controversial Bavarian writer.

© Thomas Plettenberg

A heavy burden lies on the Ludwig-Thoma-Haus in Tegernsee.

So difficult that the city of Munich, as administrator, has still not made a decision on how to proceed with the historic property.

Tegernsee – The last place of residence of the Bavarian writer Ludwig Thoma (1867-1921) is in good shape, both on the outside and inside.

As good as can be for such an old building.

Even the garden looks lovingly cared for.

For almost 14 years, from the spring of 1908 until his death on August 26, 1921, Thoma lived “Auf der Tuftn” in Tegernsee.

He had it built according to his own plans and those of his friend, the Dachau sculptor Ignaz Taschner.

Prominent contemporaries of Ludwig Thomas, from Olaf Gulbransson to Leo Slezak and Ludwig Ganghofer, frequented the "artists' meeting place".

Keeping the memories of the poet's work alive is the goal of the Ludwig Thoma Foundation, which was founded in 1964 and is managed by the city of Munich.

Ludwig-Thoma-Haus in Tegernsee: Renovation now complete

Recently, the city had carried out numerous renovations - inside, on the roof and on the outer walls.

Although these have now been closed, the doors remain closed.

There seems to be no interest in reopening the residential building and giving people interested in culture an insight into the museum-like rooms.

An indication of this is also the homepage of the Directorate, which still points out that "due to the current situation" - meaning Corona - "as well as extensive renovation work in 2020 and in the first half of 2021, no viewing and event dates are offered be able".

That time is long gone.

Is the city really not interested in reopening?

Can she be guided further by the burden of memories of Ludwig Thoma?

As is well known, his extensive work not only includes novels such as "Der Ruepp", stories such as "The Holy Night" or the template for the "Lasbubengeschichten".

Thoma also wrote his hateful anti-Prussian and anti-Semitic diatribes on the Tuften, which he published under a pseudonym in the Miesbacher Anzeiger.

Residential building of Ludwig Thoma: the city of Munich is still forming an opinion

As press spokesman for the city of Munich, Matthias Kristlbauer announced last year that the opinion-forming process was not yet complete.

He has no other words for a renewed request as to when the idea of ​​offering guided tours and readings will be considered again: "The formation of an opinion is not yet complete." He also gives this reason when asked whether the Munich City Council will discuss it again.

And if so, when?

After all, last summer, on the 100th anniversary of Thomas's death, there was an attempt to rename a Ludwig-Thoma-Straße in Munich because of the writer's attitude.

Mayor Dieter Reiter had rejected that.

More than the indication that a date for the reopening has not yet been set, but that a sale of the house is not currently being sought,

Tegernsee Week also in 2022 without an event in the Thoma-Haus

Visitors to Tegernsee will therefore have to do without the opportunity to critically examine this history on site.

Which Birgit Halmbacher-Höpplinger, as the organizer of the Tegernseer Woche, very much regrets.

Since the culture week was founded almost 50 years ago, "well-organized events in this wonderful atmosphere" have taken place regularly.

"It's no use falsifying history," says Halmbacher-Höpplinger.

"Everyone has to get their own picture and be able to deal with it." Her wish would be if the doors in the Ludwig-Thoma-Haus were open again for the anniversary week next year.

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Thomas Baumgartner from the Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH (TTT) does not give the house any great importance from a tourist point of view.

There are also other names that are important for the cultural landscape of Tegernsee, not just Ludwig Thoma.

"Regardless of this, an intensive examination of our past is an important part of our society and important in terms of a living culture of remembrance."

It is currently open whether we will be back on site.

Read here: suspended sentences for Kreidl and Bromme.

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