A former prison in Braunschweig, Germany, has been place up for sale with a starting price of €3.6 million, according to the Lower Saxony State Office for Construction and Real Estate. The property, known as the Rennelberg prison, closed in April 2024 when the remaining 44 inmates were transferred to the main facility in Wolfenbüttel.
The 13,400-square-meter site, located in a prime inner-city location, includes workshops, a large kitchen, sports facilities and a chapel. The state office has reportedly received inquiries from around ten potential buyers, but no offers have yet been submitted. Oliver Wahnschaff, an employee of the state office, stated that potential buyers have been reticent to reveal their plans for the property.
The state office has suggested a range of possible uses for the site, including gastronomy, small businesses, arts and cultural projects, and hotels. Residential development is also considered a possibility, though “inappropriate uses” such as gambling halls or brothels are prohibited. Any prospective buyer will be required to present a viable concept and demonstrate financial stability, with the state retaining the right to decide on the final terms of the sale.
A significant challenge for any future owner is the fact that much of the prison complex is designated as a historical monument. Any renovation or reconstruction work will be subject to strict regulations regarding features such as windows and room layouts. The extensive disrepair of the building also presents a substantial financial hurdle; the state of Lower Saxony deemed a comprehensive renovation to bring the prison up to modern standards too expensive, leading to its closure.
The sale of the Rennelberg prison is not an isolated case. Similar former prisons in other cities, including Helsinki, Berlin, and Kaiserslautern, have been repurposed. Notably, the Katajanokka prison in Helsinki has been successfully converted into a hotel, retaining much of its original architecture while offering modern amenities. In Hamburg-Wandsbek, a former prison now houses a local court.
The Braunschweig prison, built in 1884, served as a district and remand prison and was a central women’s prison. During the Nazi era, it was used as a holding facility for individuals before transfer to other prisons, execution sites, or concentration camps. It was also used by the Wehrmacht and SS during World War II as a place of detention. Local groups are advocating for the preservation of three cells in their original condition as a memorial to the prison’s dark history.
Adding a potential wrinkle to the sale, the Braunschweig State Theatre has expressed interest in using the former prison as a temporary venue for performances this summer. The state office has not yet responded to the theatre’s proposal. If no suitable offer is received by the finish of April 2026, the state plans to extend the bidding period or re-launch the sale process.
