Date

Circa 1910

The Cologne City Hall is the oldest city hall in Germany still in use. The Renaissance style loggia and tower were added in the 15th century. The entrance porch, the Doxal (1569-1573) by Wilhelm Vernucken is a unique copy in Germany of buildings by Sansovino and Palladio. Rebuilt after WWII. The Rathaus is situated near the Alter Markt on the inner side of the Roman city wall, in the heart of the medieval Jewish quarter. A town hall building is mentioned here in 1135-11399, but the Hansasaal on the first floor, which survived the great fire in the Jewish quarter in 1349, was part of a Gothic rebuilding. The Gothic nucleus of the Rathaus, together with its tower and Renaissance porch, have been reconstructed after severe damage in World War II. It is the oldest city hall in Germany still in use. The entrance porch, the Doxal (1569-1573), of the Rathaus by Wilhelm Vernucken is a unique copy in Germany of buildings by Sansovino and Palladio.