Attraction: Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) is a magnificent neo-gothic building that dominates the north of Marienplatz in central Munich. Built between 1867 and 1874 by Georg von Hauberrisser, the construction with mostly brick and shell limestone. The rapid development of the city soon required that annexes be constructed. Between 1899 and 1903, they were erected and operated along Dienerstraße, Landschaftstraße, and Weinstraße.

The seat of the mayor’s office, the town council, and the headquarters of the city administration are all in the Neue Rathaus.

At almost 100 meters (300 feet) long, Neues Rathaus is richly ornamented in the neo-Gothic style and shows almost the entire line of the Bavarian Wittelsbach house.

The Glockenspiel is also world-renowned and worth seeing in the Tower Balcony of the New Town Hall. Since 1908, every day at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., figurines representing stories from Munich’s history twirl on two levels. (The show at 5:00 p.m. from November through February is omitted).

The Münchner Kindl (symbol of the city’s coat of arms) and the Angel of Peace, in addition to the well-known cooperative dancers, also appear in the nearly 12-minute-long spectacle.

There is an observation deck at the top of the 85-meter-high (255-foot) tower of the town hall, which can be accessed via an elevator and offers a magnificent view of the town’s rooftops, even as far as the Alps in good weather. The Ratskeller, a traditional Munich restaurant since 1867, is located within the generous and richly painted cellar vault of the Neues Rathaus.

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