Munich town hall clock. The new town hall in Munich - a fairy tale come to life

Hello, friends! Another grandiose object awaits our attention. This is the new town hall in Munich. Anyone who has seen the Munich City Hall will not doubt the grandeur of the building at all. The New Town Hall impresses not only with its neo-Gothic grandeur, but also with a fascinating performance to the sound of chimes, the episodes of which I tried to record. Now let's see what came out of it.

In this article:

1. Exterior of the new town hall in Munich
2. Inner courtyard and exhibition hall of the town hall
3. Chimes and puppet show

Exterior of the new town hall in Munich

The town halls of European cities are often the most significant objects. But if this is not the most-most architectural masterpiece of the city, then one of the main ones for sure. I saw great. I was impressed by the radnice in the northern Czech city of Liberec. Almost everyone has heard of the Prague City Hall. And the new town hall in Munich struck me with its scope.

The new town hall occupies the entire northern side of Munich's main square -. To begin with, let's take a look at the town hall in order to appreciate this architectural masterpiece:

If we stand in front of the town hall, then in this case we are looking at its right wing. Behind these walls, balconies and gothic windows are 400 offices placed at the disposal of the city council.

The highest part of the building - the neo-Gothic tower - is off-center and much higher than the other parts of the town hall. The construction of the building began in 1867 and lasted 42 years, and all this time the disputes did not subside whether it was necessary to build such a high tower in the central square of the city that could compete with the towers of the cathedrals. Despite the opposition of many citizens, the beautiful tower stretched out to its full 85-meter height, and no one today doubts that it adorns the square:

I find it difficult to say from what point this object should be photographed so that it enters the frame completely. Hopes only for observation platforms located on high towers, which are a few steps from Marienplatz. But no matter which corner of the square you climb into, the building of almost a hundred meters in length can only be photographed in parts.

It is convenient to view the town hall tower from under the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral, towering opposite:

From this height, the spire of the neo-Gothic tower is almost at eye level. If you have a good camera with you, there is a chance to capture the main character of the town hall. The figure crowning the spire is called the Munich baby. The baby with the Gospel in his hands looks down and blesses the people of Munich.

In general, it is impossible not to notice how many sculptures are placed on the walls of the new town hall. It seems that the town hall has become another Wittelsbach museum, only the sculptures in this case are located in the open air.

If in the Residence near Marienplatz and in the royal museums, where numerous sculptures of representatives of the royal family of Wittelsbach are exhibited, the new town hall provided wall ledges and balconies as pedestals.

At the base of the high tower is the entrance to the courtyards of the town hall.

The town hall building is divided into six courtyards. Let's take a look at at least one of them in order to have an idea of ​​​​the internal structure of the town hall.

Inner courtyard and exhibition hall of the town hall

Having examined the luxurious facade of the new town hall, I stopped in front of a colorfully decorated arch leading to the courtyard of the building:

The courtyard is fenced off from the square by the wide walls of the town hall and is a small square. Since the building is tall, you find yourself in such a stone well:

It was I who had already crossed the entire courtyard and photographed the main tower of the town hall, standing on the steps at the entrance directly to the building.

I liked the door so much, reminiscent of some fairy-tale mysteries, that I could not deny myself the pleasure of seeing what was hidden behind this door. And the situation, indeed, is shrouded in a certain mystery, because the deserted courtyard of the town hall contrasts so much with the square filled with people that you involuntarily prepare for any surprises)))

Behind the door was a spacious corridor. Taking a left, after several passages I found myself in a spacious and bright exhibition hall:

The hall was deserted both in terms of visitors and in terms of exhibits. Several paintings of modern art trends on the walls, a few voluminous works - that's all the exhibition material. But I really liked the hall itself - elegant architectural design, beautiful lighting:

Probably, it was possible to travel around the town hall and look into the halls and offices. Usually in such buildings there are magnificent premises that are the real treasure of the country. But I decided to confine myself to visiting the exhibition hall and continue my acquaintance with the city - to watch and listen to the chimes at the appointed time.

Chimes and puppet show

I really wanted to see what kind of fascinating action takes place on the balconies of the main tower of the town hall several times a day to the sound of chimes. I have already heard about this Munich performance, and ours was thought out so that we could be present on the central square of Munich at the time when the city chimes sound.

The chimes of the new Munich City Hall play four different melodies. They sound all year round at 11.00 and 12.00. And in the period from March 1 to October 31, one more time is added - 17 hours.

But it’s not so much interesting to listen to the chimes as to watch the performance that unfolds on this malachite-colored balcony:

The clock is equipped with 43 bells and 32 copper figures cast in full human growth. The puppets on the town hall first put on a show on the top tier of the balcony. Accompanied by the ringing of chimes, a real historical fact is depicted in 1568, when a tournament of knights was held in Munich, arranged in connection with the marriage of the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm V and the Duchess of Lorraine.

On the lower tier of the same balcony, you can see the dance of the coopers, which also symbolizes a historical event - the end of the rampant terrible plague that struck the inhabitants of the city in 1515-17. The coopers are circling in a dance led by a choreographer or choreographer standing in the back of the balcony, or as dance specialists were called there several centuries ago:

And yet, that I am trying to describe in words the action that you can see. I recorded part of the performance, but I will warn you right away that its quality is very lame. By the beginning of this performance, I had already managed to buy Bavarian souvenirs, I had to hold them and at the same time record what was happening. And to control the camera with one hand for ten minutes is very difficult. Therefore, friends, do not judge strictly the unfortunate operator, but just watch the wedding jousting tournament and the coopers' dance:

The entire performance lasts over ten minutes. This is much longer than the sound of the Prague Astronomical Clock. Needless to say, the new town hall in Munich offers more interesting entertainment for visitors to Marienplatz. But the recording in Prague, due to the short duration of the process, I did quite well))

Perhaps, I outlined all my impressions that the new town hall in Munich made on me. like many of you, I have repeatedly seen this attraction in photographs, but in reality the building impresses much more with its power and grandeur. There is no need to say that travelers visiting Munich need to visit Marienplatz and see the town hall with their own eyes. Because this is the square that no visitor to Munich will miss. Rather, you can make appointments here)) Well, let's meet in Munich under the chimes of the new town hall, friends!

Your euro guide Tatiana

The New Munich Town Hall (das Neue Rathaus) is the seat of the Munich City Council, the Mayor and the city administration.

The new town hall is located in the heart of Munich - on the Marienplatz square. The building of the New Town Hall is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city.

The architecture of the New Town Hall is unique, in the New Gothic style. Although, as its name already implies, it was built relatively recently - in 1905, thanks to the then-fashionable desire for "historicism", the town hall looks like a medieval castle.

At the end of the 19th century, the Munich city government became crowded in the building of the Old Town Hall. In this regard, a competition was announced for the design of a new town hall. The choice fell on the project of the young architect Georg von Hauberrisser (Georg von Hauberrisser) - at the time of its creation, the author was only 25 years old - who proposed to create a monumental building in the New Gothic style. The city authorities liked the idea of ​​​​Heuberrisser with a Gothic theme, because it was during the Gothic era that Bavaria received its heyday. In addition, the project paid tribute to all the rulers of the duchy, and, most importantly, to its current prince regent.

To implement his ambitious project, 22 historic buildings on the northern part of Marienplatz had to be demolished. The facade of the New Town Hall from the side of Marienplatz stretches for almost 100 meters. Pointed triangular arches, windows, turrets, characteristic of the Gothic style, are decorated with stone lace. On the main facade there are sculptures of almost all the dukes and kings of Bavaria, as well as the figure of the father - the founder of the city - King Henry the Lion. In the central opening stands a sculpture of Prince Regent Leopold on horseback, then the de facto ruler of Bavaria. On the façade overlooking the Weinstraße, a huge dragon evokes the terrible threat of the plague.

Approximately in the left third, the building is, as it were, divided into two asymmetrical halves by a tower, 85 meters high, with a clock. It is thanks to this clock with 43 bells and moving figures that the building of the New Town Hall is one of the most popular attractions in all of Munich.

Interesting facts: The clock on the tower of the New Town Hall is in fifth place in Europe in terms of its size.

43 clock bells of the New Town Hall together weigh seven tons.

The entire mechanism of the clock with the game of bells and moving figures is powered by solar panels.

Under the chiming clock three times a day, the game of bells begins, and the figures on two levels of the tower come to life. The figures on the upper level reproduce the event of the XIV century - the scene of the wedding of Elector William V and Renata of Lorraine, which took place in 1568. Their son, Maximilian I, later installed the Column of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the square, thanks to which the square gets its current name.

In honor of that magnificent wedding, among other things, a jousting tournament was organized. The scenes on the clock reproduce this holiday, all the more joyful because the Bavarians won then, as, indeed, to this day, and continue to do so thanks to the clock.

The second level of the clock features dancing figures of cheflers, barrel makers. This is a reminder of another historical event - a terrible plague epidemic that threatened to wipe out the entire population of the city has receded, and now you can celebrate and rejoice again.

At nine o'clock in the evening, another performance takes place on the clock - accompanied by a night guard and an angel, the child goes to bed - this is the Munich Kindel, the character of the epic and the coat of arms of the city.

The bells play the music of Wagner (Richard Wagners "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg") and Brahms (Johannes Brahms "Wiegenlied)".

More than 600 employees work in the New Town Hall. There are six patios and a total of 400 rooms.

Despite the fact that the city parliament still works in the New Town Hall today, many of the premises of the town hall are open to the public - even the office of the mayor, however, this office is only once a year - on the open day. The main entrance to the New Town Hall is opposite the Fish Fountain. The lobby of the New Town Hall is finished with granite and marble. Of interest are the historical Small and Large meeting rooms, as well as the hall of the law library, which occupies two whole floors on an area of ​​120 sq.m.

A restaurant has been opened in the Town Hall cellar (Ratskeller). The ceilings and walls of the restaurant are decorated with a humorous mural by Heinrich Schlitt entitled "If beer and wine had a contest."

The inner courtyards of the New Town Hall are also very picturesquely finished in the new Gothic style.

In summer, cafes and restaurants open up here. And in winter, you can see the ornament laid on the floor in the form of a labyrinth. There is an opportunity to train your abilities for orientation in space.

The balcony of the New Town Hall is a cult place for fans of the Munich football team. Bavaria München have won all three conceivable titles for several years in a row - they are Bundesliga champions, German Cup and Champions League cup winners. Every year, at the end of the football season, the whole team is invited to a reception at the New Town Hall building, and, to the joyful cries of the crowd of fans that fill the entire Marienplatz, they go out onto the balcony to greet the people and enjoy their triumph.

Ticket price

• adult - 3 euros,
• children from 6 to 18 years old - 1.5 euros,
• children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Guided tours of the interior of the New Town Hall:

in German -

• adult - 10 euros per person,
• children from 6 to 18 years old - 8 euros per person,
• children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Group tours from 10 to 25 people, including - in Russian - 115 euros per group.

Opening hours of the New Town Hall in Munich

Observation deck of the New Town Hall:

• from Monday to Friday: from 10.00. until 20.00.,
• Saturday: from 10.00. until 16.30.,
• Sunday and holidays: from 10.00. until 14.30.

The last lift is 15 minutes before closing.

Closed: January 1st, Faschingsdinstag (the last Tuesday of Lent according to the Catholic calendar), May 1st, November 1st, December 25th and 26th.

Playing bells at the New Town Hall:

• Daily at 11 and 12 o'clock,
• from March to October - additionally at 17:00,
• at 9 pm the Münchener Kindl goes to bed.

Guided tours of the New Town Hall:

• Monday, Friday - 15.30.,
• Saturday: 11.30. and 13.30.

How to get there

The new town hall is located on the central square of Munich - Marienplatz. It can be reached by any means of transport.

By public transport

By underground (U-Bahn): Lines U3, U6 to the stop Marien-Platz.

City train: Es-Bann (S-Bahn) Lines S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, S8 to the Marienplatz stop.

Bus: Lines 52, 132 to the stop Marienplatz.

Tram: Line 19 to Theatinerstrasse stop.

By car

There are several car parks in the Marienplatz area.

Underground garage Parkhaus am Marienplatz (Parkhaus am Marienplatz) at the address: Rindermarkt 16.

Open around the clock.

Parking fee:

• first hour 4 euros,
• each additional hour 3.50 euros.
• The maximum payment for 24 hours is 30 euros.

Parking for 26 places Parkplatz bei Kustermann at the address: Rosental 7.

Open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, closed on Sunday.

The cost is 6 euros per hour.

Video about the New Town Hall

Among the buildings overlooking the Marienplatz, the largest and most spectacular, of course, is the building of the New Town Hall.
It is intended for the work of city authorities: Oberburgomaster, City Council, city government.

Facade of the building of the New Town Hall on Marienplatz

The decision to build new premises for the City Administration was made by the City Council in the second half of the 19th century.

The building was built in neo-gothic style from 1867 to 1908. Georg von Hauberisser supervised the construction. The whole complex of brick and stone, with a tower 85 m high, is grouped around six courtyards. The huge facade of the building, about 100 m long, is richly decorated with figures of the Bavarian dukes, kings of the Wittelsbach dynasty, legendary characters and saints.

Figures of the Bavarian knights decorating the facade of the New Town Hall

The whole building is crowned with the figure of the “Munich baby” on the spire of the tower. The little nun holds the Gospel in his left hand, and with his right hand he blesses the city, looking at it with childish delight.

The figure of the "Munich baby" on the spire of the central tower

The Glockenspiel clock is installed on the central tower of the Town Hall. When 43 town hall bells start toll, the windows open and 32 human-sized figures begin to act out scenes from the city life that took place on Marienplatz.

Duke Wilhelm V and his wife Renata of Lorraine, bowing, open the knightly tournament, which took place on the square in 1568 in honor of their wedding. In front of them, heralds with trumpets, standard-bearers and squires pass in succession, mounted knights clad in armor appear. At a signal from the duke, they rush at each other, collide, and a knight with the blue and white flowers of Bavaria on his shield knocks out a Lorraine knight from the saddle.

Glockenspiel clock on the central tower of the Town Hall

Following the tournament, the puppet conductor, with a wave of his wand, opens the dance of the coopers in bright red jackets, who celebrate the retreat of the plague in 1517.

The entire performance lasts 15 minutes and takes place daily at 11, 12 and 17 hours.

In the evening, a night watchman and an angel of peace appear in the windows of the tower (April-November at 21.30, December-March at 19.30).

Left side of the facade of the New Town Hall

You can take the elevator to the observation deck on the tower, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city (from May to October - daily from 10.00 to 19.00, from November to April - Monday-Friday from 10.00 to 17.00).

The inner courtyards of the Town Hall are arranged according to the example of the courtyards of Gothic castles and have a spiral tower staircase, stepped staircases with spacious landings.

Inner courtyard of the Town Hall

New Town Hall in Munich (Germany) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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Truly the seat of Munich's city government, the New Town Hall is a marvelous example of neo-Gothic architectural style. Even if architecture is not your forte, you will certainly be fascinated by the huge 100-meter facade with a mass of characteristic gothic elements, which, it seems, can be pricked even with a glance! You will also be greeted by an abundance of sculptures of historical figures, folklore and religious characters and as many as 6 courtyards with well-groomed flower beds and comfortable benches. The tower of the town hall, which is 85 meters high and equipped with an elevator, offers a magnificent view of Munich, and a fantastic performance of mechanical puppets is played on its facade three times a day.

It is from the New Town Hall that it makes sense to start exploring Munich: this is not only one of the main attractions of the city, but also the location of the Munich Tourism Office, where travelers will be provided with a ton of useful information.

A bit of history

With the expansion of Munich's borders and the increase in the number of city government officials, the Old Town Hall became too cramped in the 19th century. There was a need to move the mayor's office to a more spacious building, but among the existing buildings there were no suitable areas. Then in the 1860s. The decision was made to construct a new building. Construction began in 1867 and continued intermittently until 1909, but the city hall moved to the New Town Hall already in 1874. Georg von Gauberrisser became the architect of the project; he based it on the neo-Gothic style that was relevant at that time, with its sharpness of Gothic lines brought to the maximum and the careful inclusion of details of other styles. A distinctive feature of the appearance of the New Town Hall was the abundance of sculptures, a string stretching along its main facade, and an 85-meter-high tower, almost a record for those times.

On the tower of the New Town Hall at 11:00 am, 43 clockwork bells begin to beat, and 32 human-sized figures play scenes from the life of Munich.

What to watch

The new town hall in Munich appears before the invariably admired tourists with an abundance of interesting details. The first thing to do is to enjoy the view of the 100-meter facade, which, due to the numerous reconstructions of the town hall, is actually made up of 5 separate buildings with their own unique look. Everything here is beautiful: recognizable gothic lancet windows, arches stretching upwards, and an abundance of sharp spiers and turrets. Numerous cafes and restaurants have found a place in the arcade of the first floor. On the spire of the 85-meter tower, it is worth seeing the figure of the “Munich baby”, holding the Gospel with one hand and blessing the city with the other; at its foot there are statues of the first four Bavarian kings. Along the facade of the town hall there are sculptures of Bavarian dukes, kings of the Wittelsbach dynasty, folklore characters and saints.

Neo-Gothic splendor is brilliantly maintained in the interiors of the New Town Hall - it seems that you are under the vaults of a huge temple. Of the 400 rooms with a total area of ​​more than 9 thousand square meters. m is open to the public only a tenth, but this is quite enough to appreciate the richness of the interior with its wood carvings, an abundance of gilding and stone decorations.

Be sure to find yourself in front of the facade of the town hall tower at 11:00 - 43 clockwork bells begin to beat, and 32 human-sized figures play scenes from the life of Munich: jousting tournaments, processions of heralds, folk dances. In summer, the performance is repeated at 12:00 and 17:00.

Practical information

Address: Munich, Marienplatz, 8.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, in summer - until 19:00.

Entrance and lift to the tower - 2.5 EUR, children - 1 EUR. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

The first thing that catches your eye when you stand on Marienplatz is the New Town Hall. The monumental neo-Gothic building is the hallmark of Munich.

The construction of the New City Hall lasted for seven years from 1867 to 1874. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the building was reconstructed and completed, as a result of which a glockenspiel appeared on the main tower. From the moment the construction was completed to the present day, the New Town Hall has been occupied by the City Council.

Of particular interest is the facade of the New Town Hall. It is decorated with numerous historical figures, each of which deserves special attention.

Old town hall in Munich

The Old Town Hall is located on Munich's Marienplatz and is one of the main attractions of the city.

The Old Town Hall is known for the proclamation of a speech by Joseph Goebbels in 1938 on the eve of the Jewish pogroms called "Kristallnacht".

For the first time, the town hall, built in the Gothic style, is mentioned in documents from the 1310s. With the growth and numerous changes of the city, the town hall also changed: it was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, in the neo-Gothic style, and later Renaissance elements were added to the building.

Since 1874, the city council moved from the Old Town Hall to the New, where it is located today. Now the toy museum is located in the old building, and ceremonial events are held in the hall.

The new neo-gothic town hall was built in 1867. The height of its tower is 85 meters. The observation deck can be reached by lift. The town hall clock with 43 bells and 32 figures is also one of its attractions.