Rathaus Dessau, Municipal building in Dessau-Roßlau, Germany.
Rathaus Dessau is a red-brick town hall in the center of Dessau-Roßlau, topped by a tall tower that rises clearly above the surrounding streets. The building contains municipal offices and a citizen service center open to the public.
The building was completed in 1901 by architects Reinhardt and Süßenguth, replacing a series of earlier town halls that had stood on this site since the 13th century. A fire in 1910 destroyed large parts of it, and the same architects were brought back to lead the reconstruction.
The Peace Bell standing in front of the building was installed in 2002 and marks the political changes of 1989. The square around it serves as a gathering place for local events and celebrations.
The tower has a viewing platform reached by climbing the interior stairs, offering a view over the city center from about 130 ft (40 m) up. The building is easy to spot from a distance, making it a natural starting point for exploring the area on foot.
The 1910 fire destroyed many of the building's historical records along with parts of the structure, so much of the early documentation about its construction is now lost. The reconstruction added new elements into the surviving walls, meaning the building contains two distinct phases that are not easy to tell apart from the outside.
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