Old Town Hall Salzburg: Historical Center of the City Administration
The Old Town Hall in Salzburg, located in the Getreidegasse, is an impressive building dating back to the 14th century and was the seat of the city's administration for centuries. With its distinctive clock tower and impressive façade, it is a testament to Salzburg's medieval history. Today it houses shops and cafés, but its historic charm remains unchanged and attracts many visitors.
Short info:
- What is the Old Town Hall? A historic building in Salzburg.
- Where is it? Kranzlmarkt 1, 5020 Salzburg, directly adjacent to the Getreidegasse with Mozart's birthplaceA few meters in the other direction is the Old Market.
- How much does the entrance fee cost? Admission is free.
- When is it open? The Old Town Hall is normally accessible during business hours.
- How much time should I plan for? 30 minutes
Generally
The Old Town Hall in Salzburg is a historic building from 1772, which represents an important part of the city's history. After the mayor was transferred to the Mirabell Palace The Old Town Hall is now used for various purposes, including a gallery, council meeting rooms and the storage of the oldest clock mechanism and bell in the city. The figure of Justitia (1616) on the exterior facade is a reminder of the town hall's former function as a courthouse.
History of the Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall was built in the 14th century and is an impressive example of medieval architecture. Salzburg had a city council as early as 1370, followed by the appointment of a mayor. The “Kheuzlturm” served a variety of purposes: its bells rang for the night's rest, the tower clock and the tower trumpeters served as public timekeepers, and the night watchman's call also rang out from this city tower. The tower also served as an alarm center in the event of fire or unrest.
Over time, the office of the mayor and the function of the town hall lost importance, especially during the terms of office of the Prince Archbishops Matthäus Lang and Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. Over the centuries, the use of the building changed considerably. Dance events were even held there until the State Theatre was built. The official apartments of the town clerk, the town midwife and the town preacher were also located here.
Cultural significance
Today, the Old Town Hall is used for various cultural events, including exhibitions and concerts. On the first floor is the columned hall of the city gallery with changing exhibitions by Salzburg artists, which we honestly didn't find particularly exciting. The other floors are just offices.
The Kulstrunk panorama “The City of Salzburg in 1916”, which hangs on the second floor, is still open to the public.
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