Visiting the New Town Hall - Glockenspiel
Constructed between 1867 and 1908, the Munich New Town Hall is a primary landmark located on Marienplatz, the city's main square. Its 100-meter-long neo-Gothic facade features intricate carvings and sculptures. With a main tower standing over 88 meters tall, the building's architecture echoes its counterpart on the Grand Place in Brussels.
Discovering the Glockenspiel
A distinctive feature of the New Town Hall is its elaborate carillon, which performs daily at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., with an additional 5 p.m. show during the summer months. In the upper section, 16 figures and 43 bells rotate and chime to reenact the wedding celebrations of Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria. On the lower level, mechanical figures perform the coopers' dance, a tradition marking the end of the 1517 plague epidemic.
The first-floor balcony overlooking Marienplatz serves as a stage for major public celebrations, including victory rallies for Bayern Munich, the local professional soccer team. It also hosts concerts and events during the holiday season, when a large Christmas market occupies Marienplatz.
Panoramic views of Munich
Beyond the ornate facade, visitors can enter the building for guided tours or to view current exhibitions. The Town Hall tower is open to the public daily until 8 p.m. If you choose to climb the tower, you will be rewarded with views across the old town of Munich, for a fee of 6 EUR (about $6.50).
This is the building to see at Marienplatz. Its magnificent neo-Gothic architecture reminds me of the Rathaus in Vienna. The tower has a clock with a pretty carillon that rings every day at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Figurines reenact the history of the city at the same time. It is a show you should not miss. Unfortunately, I did not have time to explore the inside, but guided tours can be booked.