The old town hall ( German: Alte Rathaus ) in the East-Westphalian city of Minden has existed since 1260 as a meeting place for the city council of citizens, later the magistrate and now und der local administration . The arcade of the building dates from the 13th century and survived the difficult times of World War II. The Town Hall is located on the lower terrace of the city near the market square and not far from the old cathedral square ("Freedom Square from urban jurisdiction"). The building is included in the list of legally protected historic buildings of the city. In December 2010, a ceremonial ceremony was held at the City Hall, dedicated to the alleged 750th anniversary of the consecration of the foundation stone .
History
The city council of Minden was created in 1260, and immediately there was a need for its own representative building. The place was chosen on the north side of the market in the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral Square. The building, with a natural stone portico and arcade, emphasized the strength and independence of the council in relation to the Bishop of Minden . The previously existing public building (of an unpresentable appearance) was included in the new town hall.
The exact date of commencement of construction work cannot be given due to the lack of an appropriate document, but indirectly, through documents of the local bishopric, it can be assumed that the consecration of the foundation stone occurred between 1256 and 1264 [1] .
The Town Hall is the oldest surviving example of the monumental Gothic "town hall" architecture of Westphalia . The most notable part of the building is the ground floor arcade with four axial arches having original vaulted intermediate ribs. Vaulted forms, cloister and arcade design demonstrate the influence of monastery and church architecture, since the construction of the long nave of the Minden Cathedral was almost simultaneous [2] .
From 1659 to 1662, a major reconstruction took place: the courtyard of the town hall was rebuilt, and a large representative hall, built in the Renaissance style, was opened on the ground floor. These transformations were supplemented at the beginning of the 18th century by the installation of a clock tower.
During World War II, the town hall was destroyed right up to the arcade. Immediately after the war, a discussion began about how it should be restored [3] . Finally, the townspeople agreed with the architect Werner Mark , who built a new facade, which included the old arcade. The building materials used were the stones of the Bismarck Tower on Mount Jakobsberg , demolished in 1952. D 1978, next to the Old Town Hall, the architect Harald Daylmann erected the building of the New Town Hall, connected to each other by a passage.
In 1980, the artist Hans Mölmann installed a bronze clock [4] on the eastern side of the town hall facing Kleiner Domhof.
In the period from 2017 to 2021, a comprehensive reconstruction of the Old Town Hall and other administrative buildings is planned. Administrative institutions moved to other buildings of the city, many of which are located in the building of the new government of Minden in Glaci Park on Portastraße Street. Since 2018, the Old Town Hall has been closed by scaffolding [5] .
750th Anniversary of the Town Hall
The Minden eV stamp collectors association Minden eV has issued a special seal for the anniversary of the "750th anniversary of the city hall of Minden."
Notes
- ↑ Journey to medieval Minden (German)
- ↑ Minden Town Hall (German).
- ↑ Opening of the town hall in 1955 (German)
- ↑ Town Hall Clock (German)
- ↑ Mindener Tageblatt: 60-week-old Town Hall in scaffolding. Printed April 22, 2018 (German)
Links
- Minden Town Hall since 1260, article by M. Schulte, updated March 2010. (German)
- The reopening of the Minden Town Hall in 1955 by M. Schulte, updated in March 2010. (German)