House of Encounter Vestenbergsgreuth | Events & Rentals

The House of Encounter in Vestenbergsgreuth is an open, barrier-free meeting place for all generations – located in the middle of the school and sports area on Schwalbenberg, between the renovated primary school and the new multipurpose hall. At the address Dutendorfer Str. 18, the house combines a lively event program, flexible rental spaces for private and public occasions, as well as everyday services: from warm lunch during the week to counseling and health offers. Visitors appreciate the easy accessibility: parking spaces are located right at the door, and the bus stop 'Vestenbergsgreuth Schule' is immediately next to the building. Inside, modern furnishings, an open kitchen, and a friendly atmosphere with reading and game corners ensure that a short visit quickly turns into a longer exchange. As part of the municipal neighborhood concept, the house connects families, seniors, clubs, course providers, and volunteers – with fixed formats as well as open meeting points that are accessible without barriers. Those looking for spaces will find here flexibly furnished areas for celebrations, lectures, workshops, or club evenings; those seeking impulses in everyday life will discover regular events from family cafés to game meetings. In short: a place that combines practical offerings with lived neighborhood.

Events and Program: Family Café, Game Meetings, Courses, and Consultation Hours

The program of the house consciously focuses on low-threshold formats that bring different age groups into conversation. Central is the family café: usually on the first and third Thursday of the month, it opens its doors in the afternoon (typically from 14:30 to 16:30). Here, parents, grandparents, and caregivers meet with children from infancy to primary school age, use the child-friendly play area, and engage in conversation over coffee and cake. Also established is the open game meeting – usually on the second and fourth Thursday – where adults and seniors can try out card and board games or bring their favorite games. Both formats are generally free of charge and accessible without registration; drinks can be purchased on-site, and personal snacks are welcome. The program is complemented by workshops and recurring course offerings in the area of sports and movement: from functional training to senior gymnastics to courses in the adjacent hall, the range is broad enough for both beginners and advanced participants to find suitable offerings. At regular intervals, the house also invites external partners, for example, for information afternoons and lectures on care, dementia, or first aid. The consultation hour of the care support center of the district takes place on-site in Vestenbergsgreuth and offers low-threshold advice for those affected and their relatives – without long distances. This mix of fixed series and occasional focuses creates reliability while also providing variety. The specific dates are continuously published on the program page of the house; there, series dates for the family café and the game meeting for the calendar years 2025 and 2026 are recorded. Those who want to contribute their own ideas in the future will find approachable contacts with the team on-site who can assist with planning, promotion, and implementation – from handicraft meetings to music groups to thematic lecture evenings. Thus, the program grows organically from the neighborhood while remaining professionally coordinated.

Rooms, Floor Plan, and Equipment: Flexibly Furnished, Barrier-Free, with Technology

The rooms are designed for versatile uses and are fully accessible without barriers. In the foyer, a seating area invites you to arrive; next to it, an open bookshelf is available for casual exchanges of reading material. At the reception, questions are answered, registrations for lunch or lectures are accepted, and information is provided. The centerpiece is the large 'Room of Encounter,' which can be divided as needed thanks to a mobile partition – ideal for parallel group work, smaller family gatherings, or a stage-plus-audience area solution. A permanently installed screen and a projector are part of the equipment, as well as an inductive hearing system that makes music, film sound, or speeches accessible for people with hearing impairments. Additionally, there is a cozy TV room on the ground floor that can be used for smaller discussion groups, games, or reading hours. In the basement, there is a spacious gym available; changing rooms and showers are shared with the directly connected multipurpose hall. The kitchen of the house provides self-caterers with everything necessary: dishes, cutlery, and glasses are available; the technical equipment includes, among other things, a coffee machine, refrigerator, two sinks, microwave, stove, and oven. For events that require a stronger gastro setup, the hall's catering kitchen can be rented additionally. The furnishings (tables, chairs, conference furniture) are variable; they can be arranged in rows, blocks, or café formations. This creates suitable setups for lectures, seminars, club evenings, exhibitions, or private celebrations. There is no fixed seat numbering in the sense of a 'floor plan' – the strength lies precisely in the flexibility. Where a stage or platforms are needed, the team supports planning and setup; presentation and sound technology will be prepared and briefly instructed as needed. For internal and external speakers, the uncomplicated use of the house technology is provided, while building services and technical systems are reserved for the house staff. Overall, the house combines a homely stay quality with the reliable equipment of a small event center – including barrier-free paths, clearly marked escape routes, and contemporary safety standards.

Access and Parking: Address, Public Transport, and Local Paths

Traveling is deliberately kept uncomplicated. The House of Encounter is located at Dutendorfer Str. 18, 91487 Vestenbergsgreuth. Drivers will find parking spaces right at the door; please note that sidewalks, green areas, and outdoor facilities must not be driven on or blocked. Those arriving by public transport get off at the 'Vestenbergsgreuth Schule' stop – it is located immediately at the house. In conjunction with the transport association Greater Nuremberg, there is a connection to the regional bus service. On-site, all important paths are barrier-free; the main entrances are at ground level, the movement areas are generously designed, and the usable rooms are accessible without steps. Between the House of Encounter, primary school, and multipurpose hall, there is a contiguous area that allows for short distances between events, courses, and childcare. For cyclists, there are parking options outside the walking zones; parking bicycles or motorized two-wheelers indoors is not allowed. Those who arrange for delivery services or catering should coordinate the details with the house in advance to ensure that arrivals and departures can be organized quickly and safely. Guests who prefer a combination of bus travel and walking can also reach the house via short, easily walkable paths – ideal for parents with strollers or visitors with mobility aids. This provides the location with comfort, clarity, and safety.

Booking, Prices, and Use: How to Rent the Rooms Suitable for Your Occasion

The rental of the house is clearly regulated, yet designed to be unbureaucratic. Inquiries are made by phone or email through the House of Encounter; in the next step, a rental agreement is concluded, in which rooms, duration of use, and maximum number of people are recorded. Allocation generally occurs at the earliest three months before the desired date and according to the 'first come, first served' principle – that is, to the first incoming, suitable request. For private use by community residents (companies based in the community are treated equally), weekends are particularly intended; meetings of external committees are also possible if there are free capacities. According to the fee schedule, the rooms cost manageable flat rates: The large hall with kitchen, foyer, toilets, and cloakroom is priced at €100 on Friday or €120 on Saturday or Sunday; the small hall at €50 (Fri) or €60 (Sat/Sun). For instructions on technology or caretaker services, additional costs per hour may apply if necessary; for final cleaning, an hourly rate is charged based on effort. A deposit of €200 is to be paid in cash upon signing the contract and will be offset against proper return. In operation, the house must be handed over broom-clean after use; furniture can be rearranged within the permitted scope but must be returned to the original setup at the end. Open flames and candles are prohibited, escape routes and fire protection facilities must remain clear. The available presentation and audio/video technology (e.g., projector, TV, audio rack) may be used after instruction; building technical systems are operated exclusively by staff. For catering, the house preferably recommends the local inn at Schwalbenberg, which is familiar with the conditions; the house kitchen and – if booked – the hall's catering kitchen are available. Those planning an event where the number of participants may vary significantly should observe the permissible visitor limits: 100 people in the large hall, 50 in the small hall. The team advises on which seating arrangement and room combination is best suited for the occasion.

History, Location, and Special Features: From the Old School to a Place for Everyone

The current House of Encounter is the result of a multi-year renovation and expansion process at the Vestenbergsgreuth school complex. The former school building was transformed – in three construction phases – into an ensemble of a renovated primary school, a newly built multipurpose hall, and the House of Encounter in between. The house was ceremoniously opened in October 2021; at the same time, the former playground was redesigned as a barrier-free multi-generational space. According to press reports, the renovation measures had a volume of around six million euros, a significant part of which was covered by funding. The multi-generational space with fitness equipment, rest areas, paths, trees, and designed elements creates an inviting outdoor area for movement and encounter. Relevant partner structures are directly adjacent to the house: school, childcare center, and – within walking distance – the daycare center. This proximity ensures that events, counseling offers, and family life work well together. In 2022, a family support center was also opened in the house – a component in the district network of family education that bundles low-threshold meeting points, counseling, and courses. The content of the house thrives on togetherness: clubs, adult education offerings, sports and music groups meet neighborhood initiatives, senior dance, or handicraft meetings. Service offerings have also been anchored in the building: a practice landscape with therapy and medical points complements the social infrastructure on-site. Particularly noteworthy is the equipment of the 'Room of Encounter' with an inductive hearing system, which makes events more accessible for people with hearing impairments. Originating from civic engagement and supported by the municipality, the house is thus not only an address for individual events but a focal point for communal life – from lunch to evening readings.

Opening Hours, Services, and Family Support Center: Practical in Everyday Life, Strong in the Network

To ensure that spontaneous visits become reliable points of contact, the house maintains clear opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 16:00, Friday from 10:00 to 15:00; within this time, the rooms may be freely used – for example, for conversations in the foyer, reading at the bookshelf, or small game rounds. A special service is the warm lunch from Monday to Friday: in cooperation with the local inn at Schwalbenberg, a daily changing meal is offered between 11:30 and 14:00. Orders must be placed by 17:00 the day before at the latest – preferably also collected for several days – with a guideline price of €3 per portion; water and tea are free, other drinks and coffee specialties can be purchased on-site. On the organizational side, the house is integrated into municipal neighborhood work; on-site, the family support center serves as a point of contact for questions regarding education, family life, and networking. The management of the family support center is led by a social pedagogue (B.A.); the team can be reached via the central phone number 0151 1401 4207 and the house's email address. Spatially, the family support center benefits from its location between the school, childcare center, and daycare: parents can combine appointments with short distances while children use play or movement offers. Topics such as parent-child actions, complementary feeding, or parenting questions are addressed in open meetings, discussion rounds, or lectures; if necessary, contacts to counseling centers and network partners in the district are provided. In addition, the house collaborates with initiatives in the vicinity – for example, with the district youth ring and the environmental station in the youth camp on-site, which help shape actions and events. This dense networking makes the House of Encounter an address where one can enter without barriers and leave with a sense of belonging.

Sources:

• House of Encounter Vestenbergsgreuth – Official Website
• House of Encounter – Rooms and Functions
• House of Encounter – Events
• House of Encounter – Lunch
• House of Encounter – Contact, Opening Hours, Access
• Usage Regulations House of Encounter (as of 19.02.2024)
• Fee Regulations House of Encounter (as of 19.02.2024)
• Nürnberger Presse – Meeting Point for All Generations in Vestenbergsgreuth (09.10.2021)
• District Erlangen-Höchstadt – Concept Update Family Education (Family Support Center in the HdB, 2023/11)
• Environmental Station Youth Camp Vestenbergsgreuth – Actions and Collaborations
• Dreycedern e. V. – Info Afternoon Dementia and Care in the HdB (Event Announcement)