Rathaus Altenburg

Rathaus Altenburg is a Renaissance town hall with three floors, regularly spaced rectangular windows, cornices, and an octagonal stair tower centered on the front facade. The ground floor contains the Ratskeller, a vaulted cellar supported by columns with sculptural capitals that form part of the building's internal structure.

The building was constructed between 1561 and 1564 based on architect Nikolaus Gromann's design, with Caspar Böschel overseeing construction during the Renaissance. It underwent its first renovation in 1663, a second one in 1864, and received a well-designed savings bank extension in 1923.

The building displays relief sculptures with biblical scenes, Saxon dukes, and cherubs on its corner bay windows, created by Hermann Werner's workshop from Gotha. These carvings tell stories about power and faith that mattered to the city at that time.

The building is easily accessible from the main square and sits centrally in the old town, where most visitor paths converge. The octagonal stair tower is clearly visible from inside and helps with orientation when exploring the interior of this town hall.

The name Ratskeller refers to a wine sales tradition that once took place in the cellar, directly overseen by the town councilors themselves. This blend of municipal administration with wine trading made the cellar an important economic and social hub within the town hall.