Description of the attraction
The Town Hall in Aachen is not just an architectural monument, but also a building that to this day plays a huge role in city life. As you know, the building stands close to the equally famous Aachen Cathedral, making up a magnificent architectural ensemble, which is included in the lists of the most valuable monuments in Germany.
If you look into the depths of Aachen history, you can see that the town hall was previously located in the so-called Grasshaus, but in the 14th century it was decided to build a new building, since the city received a new free status. The old town hall could not receive huge receptions, and even more so, could not become a place for coronations. The construction of the new town hall began in 1330, and the building was built in nineteen years, which is not so long, given the scale. It is also known that the palace of Emperor Charles, destroyed by that time, served as the foundation for the construction of the town hall.
Several fires that occurred in the fate of this building destroyed either the roof or the towers, but each time the town hall was restored. In the 18th century, the town hall was significantly rebuilt and restored, and its highlight was the frescoes and special panels made of wood. The next, 19th century also brought with it many changes, because the building of the town hall was constantly rebuilt, adding halls. The purpose of these actions was to return the Gothic features to the town hall, which had been lost earlier.
The famous statues of kings in the company with traditional symbols of various arts and sciences - fifty statues made in stone - appeared on the northern facade not so long ago, in the middle of the 19th century. At about the same time, Alfred Rethel applied his talented hand to the frescoes that appeared on the walls of the halls.
The town hall was also damaged during the Second World War: in 1943, the building became one of the targets of the bombing. Restoration work was carried out slowly and carefully: all available drawings were compared, the most authentic ones were selected, the most complex ornaments were reproduced, and frescoes were renewed. The process proceeded slowly, the full restoration was completed only by the end of the 70s.
Today, the Aachen City Hall is one of the city's striking business cards, an architectural monument and a landmark for the townspeople. The most significant events take place on the square in front of it, from fairs to sports competitions. And in the building itself there is not only a museum, but also the usual offices of the burgomaster and other officials who manage city affairs in the third millennium.
