Neues Rathaus

A guide to Munich's Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and Glockenspiel

The big daddy of Marienplatz is the splendiferous Neues Rathaus, a structure with the power to turn people who don’t give a damn about architecture into ardent fans.

GOTHICA: Munich's New Town Hall is one of Germany's most distinctive buildings.

It’s a feast for the eyes with something new to notice in virtually every square metre of the neo-gothic edifice.

Even though I must have seen it 100 times I still swing by Marienplatz whenever I can just to gawk.

All in the details

The Neues Rathaus was built from 1867 to 1908 out
of a simple need for more civic offices. Its elaborate façade rises over a grand arched arcade at ground level.

There’s statues-galore on the upper storeys – paupers, gargoyles and dragons hustle for attention with kings, dukes, and prince electors. Turrets lines the gables a grand clock tower, with its world famous Glockenspiel, soars above it all.

Click here for Destination Munich's in-depth and illustrated story about the Munich Glockenspiel

Seat of power

Officially, the Neues Rathaus is where Munich’s Lord Mayor grinds away for the benefit of the citizenry. Since 1993 that’s been Christian Ude from the left-of-centre Social Democratic Party (SPD).

NIGHTSHADE: The town hall looks great after dusk. Photo by Jametiks

He’s known as a progressive with a satirical sense of humour who occasionally moonlights as a comedian.

The building has other uses – there’s shops and a Tourist Information Centre along the ground-floor arcade and a traditional restaurant, the Ratskeller, within its six inner courtyards.

Just like old times

The Glockenspiel (the official English word for this is “carillon”) springs to life at 11am, 12pm and also at 5pm from March to October. It re-enacts scenes from Munich’s history as more than 40 bells chime away.

The top level shows the 1568 wedding of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata von Lorraine. It features a French jouster fighting a Bavarian one. No prizes for guessing the outcome.
Wilhelm and Renatas' was one of the most expensive weddings of the Middle Ages where, among over things, over 500 oxen were eaten.

SMAUG: This dragon is among the most popular embellishments on the building.

Underneath is the “Schäfflertanz”, a jig traditionally performed by Munich’s red-coated coopers (barrel makers).

Munich’s real coopers repeat this dance every seven years to celebrate the end of the Plague which hit the city in the Middle Ages.

But don’t hold your breath, the next one’s not till 2012.



To the top

At the very top of the 85m tower stands a small statue of the Münchener Kindl, the monk-child symbol of the city. From April to November you can take an elevator to a viewing platform on the ninth floor of the tower.

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