Platzjabbeck, Medieval wood sculpture on Rathausturm tower in Altstadt-Nord, Germany.
Platzjabbeck is a wooden male head with a floppy hat and large eyes mounted on the east side of the Rathausturm tower. The red tongue and black beard give the figure a comic and expressive appearance.
The head was installed by the Cologne Council in 1445 during a period when power shifted from patrician families to local trade guilds. The figure was mechanized during renovations in 1913 to extend its tongue each hour.
The head represents a symbol of merriment connected to the marketplace and public celebrations at Alter Markt. Its exaggerated features and mechanical antics reflect the playful spirit of local festivities and gatherings.
The sculpture is best viewed from Alter Markt square, which is accessible by tram line 5 or on foot from Cologne Central Station. The best vantage point is directly below the tower, where you can clearly see the hourly tongue movements.
The name blends the German word Platz with the Cologne dialect term jappe meaning to yawn and the French word bec for mouth or beak. This linguistic combination reflects Cologne's cosmopolitan history as a trading center.
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