Josef Lex (El buen soldado Švejk)
Ulm, Baden-Wurtemberg (estado federado de Alemania), el arte muy especial de los Ayuntamientos de Baden-Württemberg), municipalità, mairie, town council (Marktplatz)
Rathaus (Ulm)
Ulm Town Hall from the southeast (with festival flying of flags on the occasion of Schwörmontags - Swear Monday)
Not least because of its frescoes and and an astronomical clock the Town Hall of Ulm is among the outstanding monuments in the city of Ulm. Its complex architectural history - it consists of three different components - began in the 14th century, its present appearance dates back to the early Renaissance.
Architectural History
Gewandhaus (Cloth hall or Linen Hall)
The oldest part of the Ulm City Hall formed a (later demolished) construction in the area of today's town hall north wing. 1357 this is referred to as "Gewandhaus" respectively in 1362 as "Store". A Ulmer business center of those times formed in addition to iron and salt drapery, in particular the fustian. 1369 also received the saddler the right to sell their goods there.
New Department Store
Imperial window of the east side of City Hall with figures of Hans Multscher
1370 was as extension today's eastern wing of Ulm town hall - then also referred to as "new store" - added. In its ground floor there was an 8 m high sales hall of the butchers. A related pointed arch on the south side exists to this day. 1383, the building is also referred to as the "Court House" as it now on the ground floor possessed an towards the north open arbor where the Niedergericht (lower legal jurisdiction) met in public.
At the latest from 1395 also the Ulmer Council had a council chamber in the building that 1419 from now on is called "Town Hall". Around this time, above the three-aisled sales hall a great council chamber was installed and provided the southeastern front of the building on the 1st floor after 1420 with 5 large, late Gothic magnificent windows. The two windows of the east side received an ogee arch framing (Kielbogenrahmung), the three south-facing windows Wimperg superstructures (a wimperg is a German and Dutch word for a Gothic ornamental gable with tracery over windows or portals, which were often accompanied with pinnacles. It was a typical element in Gothic Architecture especially in cathedral architecture. Wimpergs often had crockets or other decorative elements in the Gothic style. The intention behind the wimperg was the perception of increased height). In addition at the windows stone figures were attached. While the sculptures of the six electors of the windows facing south of the Town Council stem from master Hartmann, are the sculptures at the east window works by Hans Multscher. The figure of the emperor (shown is Charlemagne, since 1420-1433 there did not exist any German Emperor) is flanked by two squires and the kings of Bohemia and Hungary (both crowns then held King Sigismund, who in 1433 also was crowned emperor of Germany). The originals of today's copies at the town hall are located in the Ulmer Museum.
Preaching pulpit at the east side
There is also a preaching pulpit at the east side from which the emperor or his representatives received tributes, but also death sentences were read. It must already in 1473 have been present, but in 1539 and 1604 it was completed and remodeled.
Roth'sches house
Yet during the construction of the (new) department store in the west of the complex an older half-timbered house ("Roth'sches House") had been purchased. This one around 1480 was rebuilt and adapted to the main building structure. By 1900, this part was completely demolished and replaced.
Restructuring in the 16th century
In the 4th decade of the 16th century followed extensive alterations whereby the north wing (ie the original drapery or department store) was demolished and the northern transept (with arcades) by architect Hans Michel completely renovated. Of original North structure (Gewandhaus - Drapery house) only the basement vault has been preserved, which during longer periods still was used as a prison. The East Wing received its present form with filigree columns and entablatures in terracotta, also the yet existing bay turret at the southeast corner has been changed.
Ulm City Hall from the North, frescoes by Martin Schaffner
1540 the Martin Schaffner attributed facade painting of the north and east side was completed. It is regarded as the greatest cycle of frescoes of the 16th century in Germany. The east facade deals with topics such as Divine Wisdom, Self-Knowledge and Justice based on biblical stories. On the other hand on the north facade can be found topics of Roman and Greek mythology as War Respectableness, Male Boldness or Obedience. Schaffner by doing so resorted to templates - especially woodcuts for book illustrations - stemming from Augsburg Renaissance artists (including Hans Schäufelin). 1576 to 1578 must have been followed another transformation of the old building.
Renovation about 1900
1898-1905 the in the meantime partly dilapidated Ulm Town Hall was extensively renovated and partially transformed, even though many voices had advocated for an abandonment of the building and for a new building elsewhere. The Roth'sche house was demolished and replaced by a better into the overall complex integrated building. In 1903, this part of the building in the northwest additionally got a staircase. The in the meantime much faded facade painting was restored respectively according to ancient designs reconstructed, and the since then demolished preaching pulpit restored, as well as the astronomical clock repaired.
The original painting of the south facade is not preserved and was redesigned in 1905. In the south gable an Ulmer Schachtel (curious wooden ships) is depicted above the coat of arms of cities and countries with which Ulm was in trade relations. In the lower part the return of the victorious Ulmer over the besieger emperor Charles IV in 1376 is shown.
From the Second World War
In a heavy air attack on Ulm on 17 December 1944, the interior of Ulm's town hall was mostly destroyed. The outer shape and the mural paintings but remained, as well as the vaulted rooms of the lower storeys, largely intact. A previously removed hall door of Jörg Syrlin the Younger of 1509 was preserved (it is now located in the Museum of Ulm). After the war the building parts for the time being were provided with emergency roofs. From 1951, the main municipal offices and the lord mayor were able to move back into the city hall. End of the 1950s and in 1973, the frescoes at the Ulm City Hall were repaired.
1987-1989 followed a further profound remodeling of the inside of the town hall. Among other things - in supplementation of the (now small) Council hall in the southeast - a second, large Council hall in the north wing was added.
Astronomical Clock
Astronomical clock at Ulm City Hall
The Astronomical clock of Ulm's town hall at the eastern front of the building dates from around 1520. Around 1580, the Strasbourg watchmaker Isaac Habrecht was entrusted with the renewal by the Ulmer Council. Its mechanism was destroyed in the Second World War and renewed in 1952.
Miscellaneous
In the atrium of City Hall today is a replica of the glider of the "Tailor of Ulm", Albrecht Berblinger, exposed.
In the (small) Ulmer Council chamber glass panes from the period around 1600 are preserved, in one of the eastern council windows also a glass sundial, which probably dates back to the time of the remodelling around 1540.
On the square south-east of the town hall there is a fountain of Jörg Syrlin the elder from the year 1482. In this so-called fish box on market days fishes were set free.
Ulm, Baden-Wurtemberg (estado federado de Alemania), el arte muy especial de los Ayuntamientos de Baden-Württemberg), municipalità, mairie, town council (Marktplatz)
Rathaus (Ulm)
Ulm Town Hall from the southeast (with festival flying of flags on the occasion of Schwörmontags - Swear Monday)
Not least because of its frescoes and and an astronomical clock the Town Hall of Ulm is among the outstanding monuments in the city of Ulm. Its complex architectural history - it consists of three different components - began in the 14th century, its present appearance dates back to the early Renaissance.
Architectural History
Gewandhaus (Cloth hall or Linen Hall)
The oldest part of the Ulm City Hall formed a (later demolished) construction in the area of today's town hall north wing. 1357 this is referred to as "Gewandhaus" respectively in 1362 as "Store". A Ulmer business center of those times formed in addition to iron and salt drapery, in particular the fustian. 1369 also received the saddler the right to sell their goods there.
New Department Store
Imperial window of the east side of City Hall with figures of Hans Multscher
1370 was as extension today's eastern wing of Ulm town hall - then also referred to as "new store" - added. In its ground floor there was an 8 m high sales hall of the butchers. A related pointed arch on the south side exists to this day. 1383, the building is also referred to as the "Court House" as it now on the ground floor possessed an towards the north open arbor where the Niedergericht (lower legal jurisdiction) met in public.
At the latest from 1395 also the Ulmer Council had a council chamber in the building that 1419 from now on is called "Town Hall". Around this time, above the three-aisled sales hall a great council chamber was installed and provided the southeastern front of the building on the 1st floor after 1420 with 5 large, late Gothic magnificent windows. The two windows of the east side received an ogee arch framing (Kielbogenrahmung), the three south-facing windows Wimperg superstructures (a wimperg is a German and Dutch word for a Gothic ornamental gable with tracery over windows or portals, which were often accompanied with pinnacles. It was a typical element in Gothic Architecture especially in cathedral architecture. Wimpergs often had crockets or other decorative elements in the Gothic style. The intention behind the wimperg was the perception of increased height). In addition at the windows stone figures were attached. While the sculptures of the six electors of the windows facing south of the Town Council stem from master Hartmann, are the sculptures at the east window works by Hans Multscher. The figure of the emperor (shown is Charlemagne, since 1420-1433 there did not exist any German Emperor) is flanked by two squires and the kings of Bohemia and Hungary (both crowns then held King Sigismund, who in 1433 also was crowned emperor of Germany). The originals of today's copies at the town hall are located in the Ulmer Museum.
Preaching pulpit at the east side
There is also a preaching pulpit at the east side from which the emperor or his representatives received tributes, but also death sentences were read. It must already in 1473 have been present, but in 1539 and 1604 it was completed and remodeled.
Roth'sches house
Yet during the construction of the (new) department store in the west of the complex an older half-timbered house ("Roth'sches House") had been purchased. This one around 1480 was rebuilt and adapted to the main building structure. By 1900, this part was completely demolished and replaced.
Restructuring in the 16th century
In the 4th decade of the 16th century followed extensive alterations whereby the north wing (ie the original drapery or department store) was demolished and the northern transept (with arcades) by architect Hans Michel completely renovated. Of original North structure (Gewandhaus - Drapery house) only the basement vault has been preserved, which during longer periods still was used as a prison. The East Wing received its present form with filigree columns and entablatures in terracotta, also the yet existing bay turret at the southeast corner has been changed.
Ulm City Hall from the North, frescoes by Martin Schaffner
1540 the Martin Schaffner attributed facade painting of the north and east side was completed. It is regarded as the greatest cycle of frescoes of the 16th century in Germany. The east facade deals with topics such as Divine Wisdom, Self-Knowledge and Justice based on biblical stories. On the other hand on the north facade can be found topics of Roman and Greek mythology as War Respectableness, Male Boldness or Obedience. Schaffner by doing so resorted to templates - especially woodcuts for book illustrations - stemming from Augsburg Renaissance artists (including Hans Schäufelin). 1576 to 1578 must have been followed another transformation of the old building.
Renovation about 1900
1898-1905 the in the meantime partly dilapidated Ulm Town Hall was extensively renovated and partially transformed, even though many voices had advocated for an abandonment of the building and for a new building elsewhere. The Roth'sche house was demolished and replaced by a better into the overall complex integrated building. In 1903, this part of the building in the northwest additionally got a staircase. The in the meantime much faded facade painting was restored respectively according to ancient designs reconstructed, and the since then demolished preaching pulpit restored, as well as the astronomical clock repaired.
The original painting of the south facade is not preserved and was redesigned in 1905. In the south gable an Ulmer Schachtel (curious wooden ships) is depicted above the coat of arms of cities and countries with which Ulm was in trade relations. In the lower part the return of the victorious Ulmer over the besieger emperor Charles IV in 1376 is shown.
From the Second World War
In a heavy air attack on Ulm on 17 December 1944, the interior of Ulm's town hall was mostly destroyed. The outer shape and the mural paintings but remained, as well as the vaulted rooms of the lower storeys, largely intact. A previously removed hall door of Jörg Syrlin the Younger of 1509 was preserved (it is now located in the Museum of Ulm). After the war the building parts for the time being were provided with emergency roofs. From 1951, the main municipal offices and the lord mayor were able to move back into the city hall. End of the 1950s and in 1973, the frescoes at the Ulm City Hall were repaired.
1987-1989 followed a further profound remodeling of the inside of the town hall. Among other things - in supplementation of the (now small) Council hall in the southeast - a second, large Council hall in the north wing was added.
Astronomical Clock
Astronomical clock at Ulm City Hall
The Astronomical clock of Ulm's town hall at the eastern front of the building dates from around 1520. Around 1580, the Strasbourg watchmaker Isaac Habrecht was entrusted with the renewal by the Ulmer Council. Its mechanism was destroyed in the Second World War and renewed in 1952.
Miscellaneous
In the atrium of City Hall today is a replica of the glider of the "Tailor of Ulm", Albrecht Berblinger, exposed.
In the (small) Ulmer Council chamber glass panes from the period around 1600 are preserved, in one of the eastern council windows also a glass sundial, which probably dates back to the time of the remodelling around 1540.
On the square south-east of the town hall there is a fountain of Jörg Syrlin the elder from the year 1482. In this so-called fish box on market days fishes were set free.