Altes Rathaus in Einbeck, Timber-framed town hall in Einbeck, Germany

The Altes Rathaus is a rectangular town hall on the southwest side of Einbeck's market square. Its stone lower storey, built from 1549 on a Gothic cellar, carries a timber-framed upper storey added from 1556, decorated with carved fan rosettes. Three bay-like towers with slate-covered spires were completed in the 1590s; the central one bears the date 1593 and Einbeck's mirrored E mark.

A council is first documented in Einbeck in 1252, and the first written record of the town hall dates from 1334; that earlier building, about 16 by 13 metres, was extended eastward in the second half of the 14th century to its present 33-metre length. The town fire of 26 July 1540 destroyed much of the stone structure when a powder store in the cellar exploded. Rebuilding on the surviving vaulted cellar began in 1549, was delayed by a second fire that year and by debts from the Schmalkaldic War, and council meetings resumed in the new building from 1562.

The building displays carved wooden details and ornate facade decorations that show Einbeck's wealth during the Renaissance period. These embellishments announced the town's strength in trade and brewing to all who passed through the market square.

The town hall sits at the market square and is easily reached from several public transportation stops, making it a convenient starting point for exploring the area. Its central position makes it simple to walk to nearby historic buildings and through the old town.

The middle porch bears the gilded year 1593 and Einbeck's town mark, an uncrowned E set in mirror image; an iron measuring rod hangs beside the door. The west porch dates from the same year, the east one was finished two years later. A Latin verse inscription paraphrases Psalm 126,1: without God's help house and town cannot prosper.