For some, taking the tour of Munich’s New Town Hall (neues Rathaus) is strictly to see the Instagram-famous law library (Juristische Bibliothek). The lavish and beautiful library has gone viral on social media with its wood paneling and elegant spiral staircases. People are eager to snap selfies on those staircases with the towering bookcases in the background.
But after countless walks over the years by such an iconic building, my motivation was simpler: I just wanted to see inside!
Regardless of your true ambitions (no judgment either way!), the Munich New Town Hall tour offered by the city is informative, entertaining, and worthwhile for inquiring minds. It includes access otherwise unavailable to Munich’s Law Library and the Neues Rathaus balcony.
Get to Know Munich’s New Town Hall
Marienplatz is the square in the beating heart at the center of the Bavarian capital. Nestled in the Altstadt, or old city, many will encounter it as a starting point as they explore the city. The famous Frauenkirche and St. Peter churches, Viktualienmarkt open-air market, and the pedestrian-only shopping areas are only a short walk away.
But it is the block-spanning New Town Hall that dominates the square. If you want the most imposing view, take the escalator up to Marienplatz from the subway and train station beneath the square. The building’s striking architecture, importance, and Glockenspiel performances draw visitors.
Brief History of Munich’s Neues Rathaus
Construction on the Neues Rathaus started in 1867 in what would later be known as the project’s first phase. The Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall, dates to the 14th century. However, with the city’s population and stature growing, a new building with more space was needed.
The Munich New Town Hall, as it became known to distinguish it from its predecessor, was completed in 1874. Two additional phases of building – 1889 to 1892 and 1898 to 1905 – followed. The resulting building more than doubled in size compared to what had been built during the original construction. If you look carefully at the exterior of the building on Marienplatz, it is easy to spot the differences in style and building material. Phase One is the eastern half while Phase Three is the western.
After World War II, when the building was rebuilt, the city raised money by allowing groups and individuals to design stained glass windows. As a result, the town hall features a wide and weird range of stained glass windows throughout the halls. There are windows depicting decidedly un-German motifs like the Statue of Liberty, Ben Franklin, and George Washington. But others depict themes closer to home, like a set that shows instantly recognizable Munich spots in a stylized design.
Munich’s Glockenspiel
During the final phase of building renovations, a mechanical clock was added to the front of the facade. The Glockenspiel, as it is better known, is world famous today and attracts large crowds for shows featuring its nearly life-sized figures that tell two stories. First is the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine then is the Schäfflerstanz with the coopers in their red jackets.
The Glockenspiel puts on its show at 11 am, noon, and from March through October, at 5 pm. But what many don’t know, is that there is also a 9 pm show. The nighttime Glockenspiel is a different performance, however. In the brief 9 pm show, a nightwatchman sounds his horn before an angel escorts the Münchner Kindl, the city’s human personification, to bed.
Neues Rathaus Balcony
Since the mid-1970s, FC Bayern Munich have celebrated championships by greeting their fans from the balcony of the Neues Rathaus. Over time, other local teams – like FC Bayern Munich’s women’s team and rival Munich soccer team TSV 1860 – have been invited to the balcony to celebrate with their supporters.
Munich Law Library (Juristische Bibliothek)
The juristische Bibliothek within the Munich New Town Hall is a showstopper with its lavish Art Nouveau style. The library started in 1843 when there was an order to catalog all of the books belonging to the city government. During the early phases of the Neues Rathaus, the library was not especially interesting. The books were kept and cared for in a relatively ordinary room.
The decadent room we see today was constructed during the project’s third phase and was completed in 1906. Architect Georg von Hauberrisser designed every detail of the room, which contrasts significantly with the building’s overall neo-gothic style. There was, of course, damage to the room during World War II. But other than a ceiling fresco, the damage was remarkably minimal. In January 1946, the library was the city’s first department to reopen and resume operations.
The two-story room features a ceiling that is almost 33 feet high (10 meters). There are two beautifully detailed spiral staircases made of gold-plated wrought iron. Unfortunately, the original ceiling fresco has not been recreated.
With such beauty, it is easy to understand why the Munich Law Library is in high demand. But the library is just that: a library. It continues to be a working library for lawyers, law students, and others. And if you can’t find the book you’re looking for on the shelves, don’t worry. The library’s collection exceeds what is on display. The rest of the collection is stored in an attic space above the library.
Neues Rathaus Observation Tower (Rathausturm)
With its location in the heart of the city, the Neues Rathaus also offers some of the best views of Munich. Although not included in the tour, the Rathausturm, or Observation Tower allows anyone to take an elevator up to the top of the building, buy an admission ticket, and then enjoy open-air views.
The Neues Rathaus Observation Tower offers remarkable views over neighboring sites like the Frauenkirche and Alter Peter. In good weather, you can see past the local skyline and to the Alps in the south.
Guided Tour of Munich New Town Hall and the Law Library
While there are other tours, Munich Tourism’s tour of the New Town Hall and Law Library offers greater access due to its affiliation with the city. (München Tourismus has previously hosted me in the city but this visit was not affiliated with the tourism organization.)
In fact, for those who want to visit the Law Library, a city-hosted tour is the only way to get access. The city’s tourism group offers tours of just the library and tours of the New Town Hall with the Law Library.
I took the tour of the Munich New Town Hall and the Law Library on an unusually frigid day in April. The tour guide on the 90-minute tour was a local woman with an obvious knowledge and passion for history and the city. The tour was extremely informative and interesting. After years of walking by the imposing building, the tour was fantastic. I walked the hallways, looked around, and learned about it from a local.
The tour includes all of the behind-the-scenes spots in the New Town Hall that you want to see, including the Large and Small Conference Halls, the Law Library, and the famous balcony overlooking Marienplatz. All this is in addition to walking the maze of corridors past unique architectural details and the mayor’s office, or Oberbürgermeister as he is known.
The tour guide knows that the Law Library and the balcony are popular photo spots. As such, she was extremely patient in providing ample time for everyone on the tour to snap all the selfies their heart desires.
Getting There
With its central location on Marienplatz, Munich’s Neues Rathaus is well connected to Munich public transit. The U-Bahn (subway) and S-Bahn (local trains) each have a Marienplatz stop just beneath the square. Additionally, there are nearby tram and bus stops.
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All photos, as well as opinions, are my own. This post contains affiliate links.