Neues Rathaus, Town hall in Celle, Germany

The Neues Rathaus is a former infantry barracks turned city hall, a neo-Gothic brick building 181 metres long with a roof ridge 25 metres high. Its five storeys once held 1,200 soldiers in 300 rooms; the address is Am Französischen Garten 1, southeast of the old town.

The site was bought by the Royal Hanoverian military administration in 1852; construction began in 1869 after Prussia annexed Hanover, and the infantry barracks was occupied in 1872 by the 2nd Hanoverian Infantry Regiment No. 77. Reichswehr and Wehrmacht units followed, then a UN-administered refugee camp after 1945. British units were stationed here from 1956 to 1992, including the 94th Locating Regiment and the 14th Signal Regiment. The city bought the site in 1994, converted the main building from 1996 and opened it as the town hall on 8 May 1999.

The building shows how Celle transformed from a military town to a modern administrative center, which you can see in how the city uses it today. Citizens interact with it as the hub of municipal services, where everyday city business takes place.

The complex lies southeast of the old town at Am Französischen Garten 1. The main building is 181 metres long, so entrances and departments are far apart; allow time to find the right office. North of the main building are several car parks, and a 1.7-hectare city park extends to the south. The former drill hall now serves as a multi-purpose hall for council meetings, concerts and exhibitions.

The site was bought by the Royal Hanoverian military administration in 1852, and building began in 1869 after Prussia annexed Hanover. The infantry barracks was occupied in 1872 by the 2nd Hanoverian Infantry Regiment No. 77, disbanded in 1919. From 1956 to 1984 the British 94th Locating Regiment was stationed here, followed until 1992 by the 14th Signal Regiment of the Royal Signals.