Image Copyright: Gisela Pape

Red Town Hall

The present Red Town Hall was built 1861-1869, after plans by the architect Hermann Friedrich Waesemann. Built in neo-Renaissance style as multi-winged facility, it has three courtyards and a 74m high tower. The first magistrate meeting took place already at the end of 1865, even though the building was only completed at the end of 1869. The red colour of the brick facades gave the building its nickname 'Red Town Hall'.

Image Copyright: Gisela Pape

The building's hallmark is the clock tower above the main entrance. At the level of the first floor a so-called "stone-chronicle" frieze, made of 36 terracotta reliefs with portraits of Berlin's history created by L. Brodwolf, O. Geyer, R. Schweinitz and A.Calandrelli, on the skirts of the building. It was seriously damaged in an air raid on March 1945, but was rebuilt and used again in 1955. In front of the town hall are two sculptures by F.Cremer, a Trümmerfrau (rubble woman) and a rebuilding helper. The lord-mayor and the East-Berlin magistrate resided here during GDR times. Since the 10th of October 1991 the government for the whole of Berlin, elected for the first time in 1990, has now again its seat in the Red Town Hall. The individual districts are still being administrated by their own city district offices.

Image Copyright: Gisela Pape

History

Berlin' oldest town hall was apparently situated at Molkenmarkt (Nikolai quarter) from 1307 to 1442. It is said that both city administrations of Cologne and Berlin have used it. Berlin's town hall was later situated at the Königsstraße (today's Rathausstraße) with a clock tower, which was called Seiberturm and a court arbour. It was rebuilt in 1583 after a fire and a courtroom hall and torture chamber were set up. In 1694, the place of execution in front of the court arbour was relocated because the executions lead to 'traffic disruptions'. A new town hall had to be built in the middle of the 19th century, as the old one fell into disrepair and the space was too small for the administration.

Image Copyright: Gisela Pape

Transport Links:

Alexanderplatz
Hackescher Markt, Alexanderplatz
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz

Image Copyright: Scriptusnet

Town Hall Schöneberg

After the Berlin Wall was built, the senate of West-Berlin moved into the Town Hall Schöneberg, built 1911 - 1914, which was actually designated to the Schöneberg city administration. It was the official residence of the senate and the governing mayor until they move into the Red Town Hall. Today, it is the administration centre for the district Schöneberg. The building was badly damaged during the 2nd World War. It was then rebuilt until 1952 and in 1985/86 renovated. The commemorative plaque in honour of US president John F. Kennedy has been mounted on the left hand side of the entrance. In June 1963, he delivered here his famous speech in which he said: All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner'.
The town hall courtyard was named after the first Schöneberg mayor Rudolf-Wilde-Platz. It was renamed in John-F.-Kennedy-Platz, after Kennedy was murdered in November 1963.

Inside the 70m high town hall tower, hangs the Liberty Bell, which was donated by the USA, recreated after the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. On the 24.10.1950, it was presented by Genaral Lucius D. Clay. The bell's costs of around 17millions were covered through donations by the American citizens, who were immortalised with their signatures on a certificate. The 10206kg heavy and 2,25m high bell has the inscription: 'That this world under God, shall have a new birth of freedom'; it is the last sentence of the American Declaration of Independence. The bell can be heard daily at noon and for special events. The bell became the symbol of liberty for the Berlin citizens. Still today, guest of the Berlin senate will be presented a replica in KPM-porcelain as a gift.

Transport Links:

U4 Rathaus Schöneberg