Town halls in Görlitz, Gothic town hall complex in Görlitz, Germany.
The Town Hall of Görlitz occupies several connected buildings at Untermarkt 6–8, including the lower part of the tower and a former Bohemian residence from pre-Gothic times. Its tower was raised between 1511 and 1516, and Wendel Roskopf the Elder added the Renaissance staircase and pulpit in 1537. The 1903 Neo-Renaissance extension by Jürgen Kröger carries the coats of arms of the six Lusatian League towns.
Görlitz received Magdeburg town rights in 1303, prompting plans for an administrative building; a wooden structure served meanwhile. In 1350 the council bought an existing Bohemian courtyard on the southwest of the Lower Market Square instead of building anew. The town hall was first documented in 1369, in a council report to Emperor Charles IV describing a craftsmen's revolt on 1 November.
The stone Lady Justice added in 1591 stands beside the town hall staircase, made by Wendel Roskopf the Elder. Unlike the usual figure she has no blindfold, which can be read as her judgment being unclouded. The statue marked the council's high jurisdiction.
Interior rooms can be visited, including the Renaissance council chamber and baroque sections throughout the building. The tower provides views over the Lower Market Square and the surrounding old town.
The tower was raised between 1511 and 1516 and served not only to mark time but also as a lookout point to protect the city. These modifications show how practical needs shaped the building's final design.
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