Old Town Hall (Rathaus) description and photos - Switzerland: Lucerne (Topic)

Old Town Hall (Rathaus) description and photos - Switzerland: Lucerne. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Rathaus.

Photo and description

On the banks of the Reuss river, near the Rathausbrucke, stands the Old Town Hall building with a characteristic clock tower. In 1370, a covered market was built here, from the windows of which the best view of Lucerne opened. At the beginning of the 16th century, part of the market was demolished, and a powerful square tower was built in its place, which is now decorated with two clocks: an ordinary one and an astronomical one.

In 1602, the city council commissioned the architect and bricklayer Anton Isemann to rebuild the old marketplace into a convenient city hall. Masters who came from Northern Italy worked on the reconstruction of the mansion. The building was erected in the style of Milanese residential buildings, only the roof structure was borrowed from the traditional farm buildings of the Emmental region. This mix of styles was driven by local weather conditions: a large roof canopy protected from wind and slanting rain. Four years later, on June 24, the Lucerne City Council held its first meeting in the new town hall.

We can say that the original purpose of the building, which was located on the site of the current town hall, is remembered in our time. In the open arcade of the building on the side of the river, there is a farmers market several times a week selling organic products. All Lucerne housewives come here to shop. The Kornshutte building next to the town hall, which used to be a shop, has now been turned into an exhibition center.

The Old Town Hall of Lucerne is easy to get to as part of a tour. The building has preserved original furniture, valuable works of art, wooden parquet flooring from past centuries and carved wall panels.

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Topic: Old Town Hall (Rathaus) description and photos - Switzerland: Lucerne.