Altes Stadthaus

The Altes Stadthaus is an administrative building in central Berlin with five interior courtyards and a prominent 80-meter tower crowned with a copper Fortuna sculpture. The neoclassical facade features detailed stonework and occupies a full city block.

Construction began in 1902 under architect Ludwig Hoffmann and the building opened in 1911 after significant investment. The structure received its current name after World War II, when an adjacent building took over the earlier designation.

The Bear Hall displays 29 allegorical sculptures representing civic virtues and mythological figures, with a central bear statue at its center symbolizing Berlin. These representations show what the city valued when the building was created.

The building sits at the intersection of Judenstrasse, Klosterstrasse, Parochialstrasse, and Stralauer Strasse, easily accessible on foot from Alexanderplatz. Today it houses offices of the Berlin Senate administration, and visitors can view the exterior and enter the lobby area to appreciate the interior details.

The building's name changed after 1945, when it was renamed from the New City Hall to the Old City Hall as a neighboring structure took the former name. This shift reflected Berlin's transition between eras and how the city rebuilt itself.

Location: Bezirk Mitte von Berlin

Inception: 1911

Architects: Ludwig Hoffmann

Official opening: October 29, 1911

Architectural style: Art Nouveau architecture

Address: Jüdenstraße 34–42, Berlin

GPS coordinates: 52.51639,13.41083

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:25