Town hall of Benfeld, Renaissance town hall in Benfeld, Bas-Rhin, France

The town hall of Benfeld is a historic monument in the town center built in Renaissance style. The original section dates from 1531 with timber framing on the ground floor, while a clock tower featuring three wooden automaton figures was added in 1619.

The core of the town hall dates from 1531, when it served as the Laube, a timber-framed arcaded courthouse where the Schultheiß passed judgment. In 1619 Ascagne Albertini, bailiff of Benfeld, added the clock tower with its ornate portal and three oak jacquemarts carved by Strasbourg sculptor Johann Fröbe. The building has been classified as a Monument historique since 1929.

The name Laube is short for Gerichtslaube, the arcade-covered courthouse where the Schultheiß passed judgment. The ground-floor arcades of the 1531 timber-framed core remain open to the street, so the covered passage is still walked through today. The three oak figures of the 1619 clock are the work of the Strasbourg sculptor Johann Fröbe.

The town hall sits at Place de la République in the heart of Benfeld and is easily reached on foot. Guided tours are available and offer closer views of the wooden automaton figures and the building's historic rooms.

The three wooden automaton figures were created in 1619 by sculptor Johann Fröbe from Strasbourg and represent Prudence, Death, and Justice carved from oak. The clock tower features three separate clock faces showing different times, making it one of the rare working automaton clocks from the 17th century.