Altes Rathaus

Altes Rathaus was the former civic administrative center of Kiel, located at the southeast corner of the Old Market with a distinctive neo-Gothic facade. The building was destroyed during World War II, but parts of its cellar vaults survived and are now integrated into restaurant facilities near the marketplace.

The building originated in the Middle Ages and underwent several renovations over the centuries as the city's needs evolved. In 1848, it became the gathering place for the March Revolution, where a provisional government met to advance democratic reforms.

The building served for centuries as the center of civic life and represented the community's voice in local affairs. Its neo-Gothic facade displayed the prosperity and importance of a growing port city.

The site sits directly at the Old Market in the city center, easily accessible on foot from the main streets. The remaining cellar areas function as part of a restaurant, offering visitors a chance to experience the historic setting while dining or exploring the marketplace.

The structure was so intertwined with the city's identity that after its destruction, officials built an entirely new administrative center elsewhere rather than rebuilding on the original site. This decision reveals how deeply the original building had shaped Kiel's sense of itself as a community.