Lübeck Town Hall

The Lübeck Town Hall (Lübecker Rathaus) is a magnificent medieval edifice that originated as a cloth hall in the 13th century. Lübeck Town Hall, one of Germany's most beautiful historical sites, is a brick Gothic edifice that has been added to over the years.

The Renaissance style left its imprint on Lübeck's Town Hall in the 1570s, when a spectacular sandstone bower replaced the exposed Gothic shield wall. An enormous battle chamber was reached through a lovely Renaissance staircase. The Hanseatic League's overwhelming role in Lübeck's economic and political character was reflected in the town hall's name, Hansesaal, which even made war and peace decisions.

In the 19th century the Hansesaal was replaced by office space and with the construction of the Citizen’s Hall, the stock exchange hall disappeared. In March 1942 during heavy air raids, the war room was destroyed.

Even today, Lübeck’s Town Hall continues to serve as the city’s administrative headquarters and meeting place of the city parliament. The halls are open to visit by guided tours, a highlight being the splendid Audience Hall, decorated in the lush Rococo style of 1755 depicting the virtues of a good government.

Location: Markttwiete 13-17, Lübeck