Before you stands a bright, massive townhouse with a distinctive, ornate gable above a large entrance gate and a series of tall windows with gray frames - this is Mergener Hof on Rindertanzstraße.
Mergener Hof is a place that has witnessed extraordinary stories for centuries. The first mention of this building dates back to 1283, but its current form comes from the early 17th century. Imagine the hustle and bustle of a medieval city; in 1454, monks used this building, specifically as an asylum behind the walls of St. Marien monastery - hence the name 'Mergener' derived from 'Marien.' When Napoleon's era arrived, the entire property passed into private hands - completely changing its character.
In the 17th century, the Jesuits began their work here, caring for young people, focusing not only on their spiritual but also their craft development. It was often loud with laughter, but also with challenges - for decades, successive prohibitions and difficulties could not break the community here. When the Jesuits transformed the Hof into a youth home in the 1930s, it was quickly confiscated during the Nazi era. After the war, it slowly regained its function, eventually becoming an open place - not only for young boys, as before, but now also for girls.
Today, at Mergener Hof, you can feel an atmosphere of engagement - sports, youth support, education, and cultural events blend here with the ironic continuity of nearly eight centuries. It's a place where tradition meets everyday life, and young people, as they have for decades, continue to learn courage, cooperation, and responsibility for the world around them.
