Altes Rathaus, Museum building at Alter Markt, Potsdam, Germany.
Altes Rathaus is a municipal building at Alter Markt in Potsdam featuring a two-story facade with eight Corinthian columns and a dome crowned by a gilded Atlas statue. Today it houses the Potsdam Museum with art and historical exhibitions.
Construction took place in 1753 under Frederick II as part of his plans to develop Potsdam into a royal residence. Architects Jan Bouman and Carl Ludwig Hildebrandt shaped the city's appearance with this design.
The sandstone figures on the facade represent six civic virtues: vigilance, courage, prosperity, justice, commerce, and prudence. These sculptures show what values the city wanted to convey to its citizens.
The building sits centrally at Alter Markt and is easy to reach on foot. The museum entrance is located at Am Alten Markt 9, and the surrounding square offers plenty of spots to rest and view the architecture from outside.
The gilded Atlas statue atop the dome was affectionately called 'the doll' by locals. Until 1875 the tower functioned as a prison beneath this roof and earned the nickname 'the Doll House'.
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