Old Town Hall (Arnsberg)
The core of the old town hall in Arnsberg dates back to 1709. In addition to municipal administrative purposes, the town hall was also used for the meetings of the estates of the Duchy of Westphalia .
Construction and history
The town hall is located on the Alter Markt below the bell tower . The town hall was destroyed in 1600. All old documents and files were destroyed. Then the building was rebuilt. On the south side there were halls that were used for trade.
After the great city fire of 1709, a new building was built on the site of the previous building. The estates contributed 1057 thalers. It is a simple solid construction. The building is characterized by clear, simple lines. In the course of time the town hall was extended several times towards the rear.
The main portal was renewed around 1840 in a classical style. A contemporary coat of arms of Elector Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria is attached to the northern pavilion-like archive building, which once housed the city archives and the state archive . A carillon was donated by the Arnsberger Heimatbund in 1988.
The main halls on the upper floor are still reminiscent of the function as parliament. The knight's hall contains several life-size oil paintings of former sovereigns.
Virgin Mary statue and blue stone
At the corner of Hallenstraße there is a barred picture niche with a Madonna, which was created by an unknown Swabian master around 1500.
The so-called blue stone is embedded below the picture. There are various interpretations of its meaning. In older depictions the "witches" are said to have been executed on this stone. The stone is said to have been moved to its current location only later. Others interpret it to mean that those sentenced to death were allowed to kneel and pray one last time before their execution. Another interpretation connects the stone with a blue stone in Cologne. All delinquents were kicked at the stone to confirm the sentence before they were led to the place of execution. If this interpretation were correct, the stone would be in its original location on the site of the former town hall or court arbor.
Todays use
Even before the municipal reorganization, the headquarters of the municipal administration was relocated to the casino building on Neumarkt. After the formation of the new town of Arnsberg, the headquarters of the administration is located in the former town hall of Neheim-Hüsten. Today there is an administrative branch in the old town hall. Among other things, the city office and the office for culture and further education are housed there. Representative events of the municipality and clubs and associations also take place in the knight's hall of the town hall. Weddings often take place in the Bürgersaal.
Individual evidence
- ^ Karl Feaux de Lacroix: History of Arnsberg. Stein, Arnsberg 1895 p. 264
- ↑ Blauer Stein zu Arnsberg
- ^ Franz Keßler: Alt-Arnsberg and his justice. In: De Suerlänner 1956 p. 110
literature
- Uwe Haltaufderheide: The architectural monuments of the city of Arnsberg. Collection period 1980–1990. City of Arnsberg, Arnsberg 1990, ISBN 3-928394-01-0 , p. 42
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 23 '50.2 " N , 8 ° 3' 50.3" E