Hamburg City Hall

Hamburg City Hall, known locally as the Hamburger Rathaus, is a magnificent architectural gem nestled in the heart of Hamburg's Old Town. This grandiose building, constructed between 1886 and 1897 in the historicist style of the North German Neo-Renaissance, stands as a testament to Hamburg's rich history and vibrant cultural heritage. The City Hall not only serves as the seat of the Hamburg Parliament and the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg but also captivates visitors with its imposing façade and intricate details.

The History of Hamburg City Hall

The current Hamburg City Hall is believed to be the sixth iteration in the city's history. The first two city halls were likely located in the New Town at Hopfenmarkt and in the archiepiscopal Old Town at the (Old) Fish Market. Following the unification of these towns in 1216, a joint city hall was established at the corner of Kleine Johannisstraße and Dornbusch. However, a devastating fire in 1284 destroyed this building, sparing only the cellar vault, which later served as the council wine cellar. The ensuing structure, known as Eimbeck’sches Haus, was renowned for its exclusive license to serve Einbecker beer. Unfortunately, the wine cellar partially collapsed during the Great Fire of 1842, but a recovered Bacchus figure still stands in the current City Hall at the staircase leading to the council wine cellar.

In around 1290, a larger city hall was constructed at Neß near the Trostbrücke. This brick building, featuring a two-story hall, expanded over time to include the lower court and a Renaissance extension in the early 17th century. The Hamburg Bank also moved in by 1619. This complex, adjacent to the old Hamburg Stock Exchange, formed the political and economic nucleus of Hamburg for centuries.

Provisional City Halls After the Great Fire

The Great Fire of 1842 led to the deliberate demolition of the old city hall at Trostbrücke to create a firebreak, although the flames continued to spread. Some statues of German emperors from the 1640s were preserved and are now displayed on the exterior of the Museum of Hamburg History. Additionally, silver bars fused with fire debris are exhibited in the Phoenix Hall of the current City Hall. Following the destruction of the old city hall, the orphanage built in 1785 on Admiralitätstraße temporarily housed the city hall and the Senate until it was destroyed in World War II. The Hamburg Parliament convened in the large hall of the Patriotic Society until the new City Hall was completed.

Planning and Construction of the Current City Hall

The site for the new City Hall was chosen at Kleine Alster, behind the new stock exchange, the only building in the area spared by the fire. The realization of the new City Hall took 43 years, from initial design competitions in 1854 and 1876 to the final acceptance in 1884 and completion in 1897. The building's foundation rests on over 4,000 oak piles due to the soil conditions. The construction cost 11 million gold marks, equivalent to approximately 80 million euros today. The project faced delays due to the city's reconstruction, political upheavals, economic crises, and health epidemics. Eventually, a group of Hamburg architects, led by Martin Haller, designed and executed the final plan from 1886 onwards.

The Majestic Facade

The two-winged granite and sandstone structure boasts a 111-meter-wide façade dominated by a 112-meter-high central tower, whose height matches the building's width. The roof is covered with copper, and the sandstone elements are primarily made of Wünschelburger sandstone. The façade's overall effect results from the combination of Italian and North German Renaissance elements. The ornate black entrance portal, adorned with intricate foliage and intertwined rosettes and figures, showcases the craftsmanship of Hamburg's blacksmiths. The copper spire is topped with a gilded imperial eagle, and its four stone gables are decorated with copper banners held by knights. Above the ground floor windows, the coats of arms of various Hanseatic families are displayed.

The Phoenix

Between the large clock and the Hamburg coat of arms on the tower shaft, the Phoenix arbor commemorates the great fire of 1842. Exactly 50 years after the fire, the topping-out ceremony of the new City Hall was celebrated. The large Phoenix sculpture by sculptor Aloys Denoth, drawn to the City Hall by four black horses, symbolizes rebirth from the ashes. A medallion beneath the Phoenix depicts the old city hall that burned down in 1842, with the Latin motto RESURGAM (I will rise again) floating above it.

The Emperors

On the Rathausmarkt side, 20 bronze statues of kings and emperors of the old German Empire, from Charlemagne to Francis II, each weighing 600 kg, stand between the window niches. Above the monarchs, the representations of civic virtues – courage, piety, unity, and wisdom – are displayed on the central tower, symbolizing Hamburg's independence from the crown as a Hanseatic city. Over the main entrance, a mosaic depicts the allegory of the state of Hamburg, Hammonia.

The Civic Professions

Above 28 windows on the representation floor, 28 character busts representing civic professions are placed on the window canopies. Sculptor Aloys Denoth portrayed well-known personalities of the time in these figures. This series of figures was welcomed by contemporaries as a lively addition to the façade and a representation of civic diligence. The sequence begins at Große Johannisstraße and ends at Alter Wall, with the portraits of the President of the Parliament on the left and the Mayor on the right of the Rathausmarkt side.

The Roofscape

The rooftop is adorned with figures of saints, the patron saints of Hamburg's parish churches, and the two dissolved monasteries that previously stood on the site of the City Hall. These include St. Catherine for St. Catherine's Church, St. Michael for St. Michael's Church, St. Peter for St. Peter's Church, St. James for St. James' Church, St. Nicholas for St. Nicholas' Church, St. Paul for the St. Pauli suburb, St. George for the St. George suburb, Mary Magdalene for the Mary Magdalene Monastery, and St. John for the St. John's Monastery. Additionally, smaller west gables feature shield bearers with the coats of arms of the Hanseatic outposts of Bruges, Novgorod, London, and Bergen.

In conclusion, Hamburg City Hall is not just a historic monument; it is a symbol of Hamburg's resilience and rich cultural heritage. Its walls echo the stories of the city's past, making it an unmissable attraction for anyone visiting this beautiful city!