Old town hall Ghent
| Ghent City Hall Stadhuis |
|
|---|---|
 Both parts of |
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| Data | |
| place | Ghent |
| Construction year | 1518 to 1850 |
| Floor space | 3350 m² |
| Coordinates | 51 ° 3 '16.6 " N , 3 ° 43' 29.6" E |
| particularities | |
| Architectural mix of styles | |
The old town hall of the Belgian city of Ghent (“Stadhuis”) is an approximately five hundred year old building complex in the city center. The construction of the town hall lasted from 1518 to the 19th century, due to military and financial problems, the construction was interrupted several times for longer periods. The magnificent building mainly shows a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles . The town hall has been the political center of the city without interruption since its inauguration.
location
The administration building is enclosed by the streets Hoogpoort (northeast), Botermarkt (east), Poeljemarkt (south) and Stadhuissteeg (west). It is not far from the belfry .
history
The construction of an administrative building in Ghent began in the 15th century when space had to be created for two municipal courts, the Keure jury and the Gedele jury . A complete new building was not planned, instead the city judges acquired three individual buildings standing side by side along the Hoogpoort, which were redesigned and enlarged from 1518. The planners and builders (not known by name) have created a uniform building in the Gothic style. An extension to the Hoogpoort took place in 1580–1582. Due to the increase in the number of inhabitants, an expansion had to be made again soon. Now a completely new Gedele jury was created on Poeljemarkt, which was executed in the Renaissance style. Here the builders followed the style of the Italian Renaissance . This was also supplemented once more, along the Botermarkt, so that a coherent building ensemble is available when the construction work is completed. Sandstone was used as the building material for the facades of all parts of the building . The south facade of the Renaissance building was finally changed in the 18th century in classical forms .
In the main hall of the historic (first) wing, representatives of the Northern and Southern Netherlands signed the Ghent pacification in November 1576 . With this treaty, the conflict between Catholics and Protestants ended and a covenant was made against the Spanish conquerors who had to leave the country. Since that time, the historic hall has been called the Pacification Hall .
In the 20th century, sculptures depicting some of the Counts of Flanders were placed on the fronts on the mezzanine floor. The figures are placed on small pedestals, on the corner house they stand individually in round niches, on the street sides two are arranged on pedestals, which are located between the round windows.
A final revision of the town hall took place in the preparatory phase of the world exhibition in Ghent , when the classicist side in particular was completely renovated.
architecture
Outside
The entire structure has three to four storeys . The clearly different tracts of the component at the Hoogpoort are not connected to the later extensions by a continuous row of windows. Above the second floor of the Gothic part, individual rooms are placed in the sloping roof, each closed with an ornamental gable.
The magnificent facade in the flamboyant late Gothic style is also the representative part of the town hall, it extends around the southern corner of the building. This corner house is formed by a two- story round bay window , surrounded on the second floor by an open hexagonal corridor. Above this, a small oriel tower, the decorative band of which continues on both sides of the building, completes this component.
Next to the bay window, in the Hoogpoort, is the main entrance to the town hall, which can be reached via a nine-step flight of stairs and a two-winged portal. From an old depiction of the town hall it can be deduced that the main entrance was initially not to the right of the bay, but to the left of it, provided that the draftsman reproduced this correctly.
The wing along the Stadhuissteeg shows clear structures and the rows of windows are not interrupted by ornamental columns, instead a wing has only one storey.
On the youngest wing of the building, the facade of which was changed in the 18th century, Doric , Ionic and Corinthian three-quarter columns and pilasters between the windows determine the facade. The column shafts are made of black granite, the capitals are gilded. The builders were inspired by Italian palazzi .
There is also a larger entrance on the renaissance wing on Botermarkt, which is more simply designed. But here, too, an outside staircase and a round arch portal lead into the vestibule. A portico is formed by two larger columns on either side of the entrance.
Several roof turrets with a square floor plan sit on the roofs of the building complex, one of which has a sundial on three sides . The others are decorated with coats of arms on all four sides.
The building complex has three inner courtyards.
Inside
In addition to numerous small offices, the town hall has 51 larger halls, the most important of which is the pacification hall. Its equipment with a striking black and white floor with a labyrinth pattern symbolizes the difficult search for justice and happiness. In addition, carved chairs, a carved bench and carved desks dominate the ambience. A brick fireplace is framed with carved ornaments, for example with a cornucopia . In the center there is the wood saying “Zenoni secreto constanti”.
The more church-like three-lane Gothic windows are adorned with colored glass, at least on the side facing the grassy courtyards. Star-shaped wooden vaults close off the stairwell and some halls. Copies of famous paintings by old masters can be seen on the walls of the staircases, including in the large rooms.
One of the beautiful rooms is the wedding chapel (Trouwkapel), the effect of which is mainly due to its stained glass windows with romantic ornaments and symbolic figures . The chapel is not uniformly proportioned because the original plan provided for a larger prayer room, the construction of which had already begun. But it had to be finished quickly and was therefore adapted in a simplified manner. A star-shaped suspended ceiling reduces the room height.
A representation hall with a large crystal chandelier also impresses with velvet armchairs that stand on a three-tier podium, also covered with velvet.
Use in the 21st century
The town hall still plays an important role in community life in Ghent as it is now home to the offices of the city officials. The interior of the town hall can be visited on a guided tour that starts daily at the nearby tourist office.
Some rooms in the town hall, including the garden, can be rented for festivities.
Web links and main sources
- Ghent City Hall on visit.gent.be
- Official homepage of the Stadhuis
Individual evidence
- ↑ The area was roughly determined with the tool from Google Earth.
- ↑ a b c d e Ghent City Hall. History and stories; with some background photos. City of Gent, accessed April 6, 2020 (German).
- ↑ Old Townhouse Ghent , accessed April 6, 2020.
- ↑ Seen from the top view in Google Earth.