Festhalle Viersen

The Festhalle Viersen is a performance space in the town of Viersen, part of the Lower Rhine region in Germany. It stands in the centre of the Old Town on Hermann-Hülser-Platz. The building was completed in 1913 to designs by municipal architect Eugen Frielingsdorf. Industrialist Josef Kaiser donated 130,000 Marks to fund its construction. The hall was used from the start for balls, gymnastics and cultural events. After wartime damage it was restored and later modernised in 1997 with new seating and stage equipment.

The hall is widely recognised for its outstanding acoustics. In 1955 a poll of twenty leading conductors named it one of the two best concert halls in Germany. Broadcasters recorded many symphony concerts and radio shows there in the late 1940s. Internationally famous conductors such as Wilhelm Furtwängler and Herbert von Karajan performed on its stage. Soloists including Gidon Kremer, Lang Lang and David Garrett have appeared in the hall. Theatre companies like the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus with Gustaf Gründgens also gave guest performances.

Visitors find a thousand-seat hall inside a classical-style building with columns and pediments. The space hosts annual events like the UMB World Three-cushion Championship and the Viersen Jazz Festival. The hall’s acoustics make it a favoured venue for CD recordings. Private and professional bookings are also possible. Its central location in the Old Town allows easy access to nearby cafés and shops.