Hamburg City Hall, Renaissance heritage building in Hamburg-Altstadt, Germany.
Hamburg City Hall is the seat of the senate and parliament in Hamburg-Altstadt and displays a facade in Renaissance Revival style with sandstone figures and reliefs. The building contains 647 rooms arranged around a central courtyard where the Hygieia fountain stands.
Construction began in 1886 after architects Martin Haller and others won a competition following a fire in 1842 that destroyed the previous city hall. The inauguration took place in 1897 once the structure was anchored on more than 4000 wooden piles driven into the marshy ground.
Its location marks the traditional center of civic authority, where merchants and councilors have gathered for centuries to manage the affairs of this port city. Visitors walking through the entrance hall notice the Latin inscriptions above the doorways that recall Hamburg's tradition as a free imperial city.
Guided tours run daily and provide access to several halls including the plenary chamber and the emperor's hall when sessions are not taking place. The courtyard is freely accessible and offers a quiet spot to observe the architecture up close.
The tower clock displays not only the time but also the moon phases, a feature that sailors once used for navigation. Underground passages link the building to the nearby Chamber of Commerce and Stock Exchange, allowing council members to move between institutions without facing the weather.
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