New Town Hall and the the Glockenspiel

The New Town Hall, or Neues Rathaus, isn’t actually that new, it was built between 1867 and 1909. And it replaced the older town hall. But, it is an amazing building and well worth the title.

What makes the Neues Rathaus so impressive?

Well, first of all, the architecture. It’s a stunning example of Neo-Gothic design. If you look at the spires, the statues, the intricate details on the facade are all great examples of the Neo-Gothic style.

It’s very well known for the Glockenspiel in its tower. It has life sized figures and tells stories from centuries ago! It reenacts those stories with music and movement. It happens every day, but times change depending on the time of year.

According to legend, during the plague of 1517, the people of Munich were paralyzed with fear. To revive the city’s spirit, the barrel makers danced through the streets, bringing hope and courage back to the citizens. The Glockenspiel retells this joyful tradition every day.

If you have the time, you should visit the tower, there are great panoramic views of the city, as you can see Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche and the Alps.

The Neues Rathaus is also the home of the city’s government. It has the offices of the Mayor and the city council of Munich.

If the door is open, take a look inside too. It is free.