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The Town Hall is a significant institution for any city, and it serves as the central hub for municipal government operations, public services, and community engagement.
Munich, the capital of the Free State of Bavaria, is the third largest city in Germany in terms of population. The elegant, neo-Gothic magnificent iconic architectural masterpiece of Munich is its Town hall also called “Neues Rathaus”. The Neues Rathaus is located in the famous Marienplatz.
History of Munich Neues Rathaus:
It was built between 1867 and 1908 and it was designed by Georg von Hauberrisser who was inspired by medieval German architecture. The architecture has ornate tall spires and elaborate facades.
Rathaus-Glockenspiel:
One of the significance of the Neues Rathaus is its observation tower and its World’s famous Glockenspiel. The Rathaus-Glockenspiel is a large mechanical clock that presents two stories from Munich’s history from the 16th century.
The first story is about the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine in 1568 and the other story is Schäfflerstanz, also known as the coopers' dance.
This show takes place every day at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. (as well as 5 p.m. from March to October). If you happen to be at Marienplatz during the show time, you will be amused to see the tourist enjoying the show and trying to capture it on their phone.
Architectural details of Munich Neues Rathaus:
At the top of the tower, there’s also the fifth-largest carillon in Europe, which rang for the first time in 1908. The 43 bells of this mechanical clock play four different melodies one after the other.
Like any other Town hall, the Munich Neues Rathaus also has a clock featuring 43 bells which was added in 1908. Before the construction of Munich Neues Rathaus, the Old Town Hall which is also located at Munich Marienplatz had served for the city council affairs.
In 1874, the municipality had left the Old Town due to lack of space, and the New town hall had become functional.
There’s also a dragon on the corner of Weinstraße, which is a reminder of the plague's history. There’s also a statue of the city's symbol, the "Münchner Kindl" (Munich Child), who enjoys a spectacular view of Munich.
The Munich City Hall has a resemblance to Harry Potter films due to its Gothic
Architecture and tall towers.
Over time, some artifacts have disappeared and damaged. In 2000, the facade underwent extensive renovation at a cost of 30,000 DM, during which the missing nativity figures were replaced. The building went through the renovation of the tower façade, and all the bells were removed, cleaned, and refurbished.
Guided Tour to Munich Neues Rathaus:
You can also get a chance to visit the Munich Neues Rathaus from inside on a guided tour. The Guided tour costs €22 per person and covers the tour to Town Hall and Law Library.
The tour has a duration of 90 minutes and the tour is available in different languages including English which is on Saturdays at 1:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. You can also book your tour to Munich Neues Rathaus here.
During the guided tour, you'll gain special insights into the history of
the building and the city.
Meeting point for the Munich Neues Rathaus guided tour:
The meeting point of our guided tour was at the Tourist Information in front of City Hall at Marienplatz. Normally, it’s recommended to arrive ten minutes before each tour and gather with your tour guide.
The external architecture of Munich Neues Rathaus:
Our Guide started the tour by highlighting the external architecture of the Gothic building as we viewed the building from different angles.
The grand facade of the New Town Hall is about 100 meters and features numerous ornaments and intriguing figures. Among them are the city founder, Henry the Lion, alongside many past rulers of the Wittelsbach dynasty.
Tour inside the Munich Neues Rathaus:
We have also been to the courtyard. After that, we went inside the Town hall. The interior of the town hall features extensive use of granite and marble.
The Town hall has 400 rooms and it has over 600 city employees. Each room serves different purposes such as administrative, ceremonial, and historical functions within the building.
Visiting the stateroom inside Munich Neues Rathaus:
The guided tour is very significant as we also get the chance to access the special rooms of the mayor's office, which are accessible on special occasions. We have also been to Messenger, Committee Room, and Room 200.
Room 200 is also known as Hauberrisser room which has been preserved in its original form including the original furniture.
We have also been to the large meeting room featuring the painting of "Monachia" by Carl Theodor von Piloty which depicted the 128 key personalities of Munich in the 700 years of city history.
We also visited the Small Meeting Room of the Magistrate which is for the intimate setting and historical significance events.
This room also serves as a venue for important administrative discussions and decision-making processes within the city government. The room has a classic interior design with rich wood paneling, intricate moldings, and historical artwork.
Corridors of Munich Neues Rathaus:
The corridors have granite and marble columns, and vaulted ceilings. The columns are embellished with animal and leaf motifs, and each keystone in the arch is intricately ornamented with plant designs. We also passed through two smaller courtyards.
Exploring Law Library:
The guide tour also includes a visit to The Law Library which has a notable repository of legal resources and documents. This library serves as an important resource for city officials and legal professionals to support administrative functions and historical research.
The library has beautiful architecture and design in the Neo-Gothic style and it’s nearly ten meters tall and ranks among Munich’s most splendid libraries. The library has gilded spiral staircases also known as the "Staircase of the Ages, and expansive shelves in the floral Munich Art Nouveau style.
The library covers an area of 120 square meters, and it has the historic "book collection of the municipal colleges" and is open to all citizens. You can also book a separate you to the library.
In 1843, the magistrate commissioned Ulrich von Destouches, who collected, recorded, and cataloged all books belonging to the magistrate
In the Town hall, there are several levels, and the staircases are adorned with sculpted balustrades and decorative motifs that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Munich.
The view from the Munich Neues Rathaus Balcony:
During the tour, we also got the chance to visit the balcony of the New Town Hall. It’s the same balcony where the FC Bayern Munich Men’s & Women’s team often celebrate their successes upon invitation from the city and thousands of fans gather at Mariensplatz to see and cheer their team.
Maybe, you also heard about another Football club in Munich called TSV 1860, they also celebrate at the New Town Hall Balcony. The view of the Marienplatz is quite fascinating.
View from the top of Munich Neues Rathaus:
You can also enjoy the beautiful view of Munich city from the tower of the New Town Hall but it’s not included in the Guide tour.
There’s a separate ticket costs €6.50 and with an elevator ride, you can reach a height of 85 meters and enjoy the views of various city landmarks with a 360-degree view.
Right in front of the tower is the Old Peter, on the one side is Frauenkirche, and on the north, is the Italian-style Theatinerkirche.
On a clear day, you can also see the impressive Alps stretch across the entire southern horizon.
Christmas Market at Munich New Town Hall:
Every year, Marienplatz changes into a winter wonderland and the Christmas market sets in front of Munich New Town Hall. The market has traditional Bavarian craftsmanship, culinary delights, and a joyful atmosphere with a backdrop of New Town Hall.
You can also experience the old Bavarian nativity scene created by wood sculptor Reinhold Zellner (born in 1903) in the inner courtyard of the town hall. The courtyard is accessible from both Marienplatz and Weinstraße. The 30-meter-high Christmas tree adorned with around 2,500 lights is also placed in front of Munich New Town Hall.
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