Hanau in Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hesse, Germany — Central Europe

Altstädter Rathaus
⎯⎯⎯
Old Town City Hall

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 3, 2025

1. Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Nachweislich das zweite, vermutlich das dritte Rathaus der Altstadt, 1537/1538 erbaut (Baumeister Conrad Speck). Vereint Stilelemente der ausklingenden Gotik und der beginnenden Renaissance. In der ursprünglich offenen Halle befanden sich Stadtwaage, Tabakpresse, Löschgerätschaften, darunter der städtische Weinkeller, in den oberen Etagen Ratsstube, Verwaltungsräume und Lagerflächen. Die zweiläufige Eingangstreppe wurde 1742 angelegt, 1767/68 die Fassade im klassizistischen Stil verändert. Nach der kurhessischen Verwaltungsreform mit Zusammenschluss von Alt- und Neuhanau 1821/22 Landgericht. 1897/99 Restaurierung der Außenansicht. Ab 1902 Museum des Hanauer Geschichtsvereins, 1942 Eröffnung als Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus. Am 19. März 1945 wie die gesamte Innenstadt durch einen alliierten Luftangriff zerstört. Wiederaufbau 1958. Seit 1985 auch Sitz der Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e. V.

Gestiftet 2021 vom Ortsbeirat Hanau-Innenstadt
Abbildungen um 1910 und 1947 (Medienzentrum Hanau / Bildarchiv)

(English translation:)
Probably the second, possibly the third town

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hall in the old town, built in 1537-38 (master builder Conrad Speck). Combines stylistic elements of the fading Gothic period and the beginning of the Renaissance. The originally open hall housed the town scales, tobacco press, fire extinguishing equipment, including the town's wine cellar, and the upper floors housed the council chamber, administration rooms and storage areas. The two-flight entrance staircase was built in 1742, and the façade was altered in the classicist style in 1767-68. After the Hessian administrative reform with the merger of Old and New Hanau, it became the district court in 1821-22. The exterior was restored in 1897-99. The museum of the Hanau History Society from 1902, and opened as the German Goldsmiths' House in 1942. Destroyed on March 19, 1945, like the entire town center, by an Allied air raid. Rebuilt in 1958. Since 1985 it has also been the headquarters of the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e. V. (“Society for the Goldsmiths' Art”).

Donated in 2021 by the Hanau-Innenstadt local council
Images from around 1910 and 1947 (Medienzentrum Hanau / Bildarchiv)

Erected 2021.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is March 19, 1945.

Location. 50° 8.193′ N, 8° 55.068′ E. Marker

Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 26, 2024

2. Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall Marker - wide view

is in Hanau, Hessen (Hesse), in Main-Kinzig-Kreis. It is on Altstädter Markt. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Altstädter Markt 2A, Hanau HE 63, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

Central Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pranger / Pillory (here, next to this marker); Hanauer Elle und Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen / The Hanau “Foot” and Fountain of Justice (here, next to this marker); Wilhelm Ziegler (here, next to this marker); Firma Jean Wunderlich (a few steps from this marker); „Männchen mit den großen Ohren“ / “Little Man with the Big Ears” (within shouting distance of this marker); Dietrich Bonhoeffer (within shouting distance of this marker); Pumpenstock / Water Pumping Station (within shouting distance of this marker); „Mann mit Bart“ / “Man with Beard” (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hanau.

Also see . . . Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus (Wikipedia, in German). Excerpt (in translation):

The German Goldsmiths' House was built as a half-timbered building on the long side of the Old Town Market between two stone gable walls and on a stone base floor. With its stepped gable and high saddle roof, the solitary monumental building was visible from afar. It dates from the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods and is dated to 1538 by a building inscription.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 26, 2024

3. Old Town City Hall sandstone decorative relief
A relief on the fasssade depicts a monkey with a mirror, a popular medieval motif for self-regard or narcissism.
Its functional predecessor, the town hall from the 15th century, stood on the opposite side of the market square (so-called playhouse). A memorial plaque on the house "Altstädter Markt 1" commemorates this. Konrad Speck is known as the master builder, as are the stonemasons Hans von Gießen, Peter von Aschaffenburg and Hans von Lich.

The two-flight open staircase at the German Goldsmiths' House was added based on a design by Christian Ludwig Hermann from 1742. Numerous sandstone reliefs from the 14th to 16th centuries embedded in the facade show allusions to foolishness and self-love as well as depictions of mythical creatures or the clever bourgeoisie - a pictorial program that still owes its origins to the Middle Ages. Originally, the ground floor contained arbor-like sales halls, the first floor the council chamber, living room and hallway, and the upper floor a warehouse. A Hanau yardstick, which was used for the market, is embedded in the facade as an iron rod.

(Submitted on March 6, 2025.)

Old Town City Hall sandstone decorative relief image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 26, 2024

4. Old Town City Hall sandstone decorative relief

Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 26, 2024

5. Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall

Photographed by Verlag von G. Prior’s Nachf., Paul Lauser, circa 1910

6. Altstädter Rathaus / Old Town City Hall

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 5, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 6, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

Altstädter Rathaus⎯⎯⎯Old Town City Hall

Altstädter Rathaus
⎯⎯⎯
Old Town City Hall