– After a fire, the homeless shelter near the Nuremberg Königspassage has been closed. As the city of Nuremberg sees several benefits in the location, it is now considering rebuilding the shelter.
A heavy loss: On New Year’s Eve from the 31st of December, 2025, to the 1st of January, 2026, the heavily frequented homeless shelter near the Königstorpassage in Nuremberg, located beneath the bridge leading to the Handwerkerhof, was destroyed by fire. The shelter had to be dismantled, and the area was subsequently closed off for safety reasons, the city of Nuremberg announced in a statement.
But that is likely not the end of the story. According to the statement, the city is considering a reconstruction, as the shelter has proven its worth in the past. Especially during the summer, it provided a low-threshold place for homeless people to stay. Furthermore, it contributed to easing conflicts over the use of public spaces, the city explains.
Elisabeth Ries, the city of Nuremberg’s advisor for youth, family, and social affairs, also commented: „The shelter was an important low-threshold service for people without their own retreat. It demonstrated that social infrastructure in public spaces is essential not to further push homelessness out of sight, but to accompany it with dignity. Such offerings not only relieve public spaces but also represent an expression of social responsibility.“
But there’s more: from the perspective of security authorities, the shelter was also vital, according to the city’s release. Staff on site were able to offer alternative places to stay when law enforcement measures became necessary.
The cause of the fire remains unclear. The specialized department of the Nürnberger Kriminalpolizei has launched further investigations.
