1891 to the present day

The Chemnitz market hall opened on 9 December 1891 – after just 18 months of construction, under the direction of Eduard Hechler, the city’s first municipal architect. A brick building with a steel frame, glazed central nave and dome, right on the River Chemnitz. Once home to 358 market stalls, it is still known to locals as the ‘Belly of Chemnitz’.

The hall survived the Second World War, served as a warehouse in GDR times and was restored in the mid-1990s. Today it is one of the most striking listed buildings in Chemnitz city centre.

KuWiKu in the hall

KuWiKu turns the Alte Markthalle into a venue for major exhibitions. We bring internationally acclaimed formats to Chemnitz – exhibitions you don’t just look at, but step inside. Historic architecture meets contemporary staging.

Chemnitz was European Capital of Culture in 2025. We want to help ensure the city remains a destination for great art long after.