The Town Hall of Görlitz has been the place of the city's administration and jurisdictions since 1350. It was first mentioned in a document by the Görlitz council in 1369. Its interior dates back partly to the Renaissance period and baroque period. Over the centuries the administration grew, so did the town hall. It utilises several buildings of different epoches on the Lower Market Square 6–8.
The town hall tower was raised in the 16th century, in 1524 a clock with two dials was added. Those were modified in 1584 by Bartholomäus Scultetus who joined the mechanisms of the day time clock with the upper moon phase clock. Wendel Roskopf the Elder built a council besides the staircase. In 1591 a stone Lady Justice was added - a symbol of high Jurisdiction of the cities council.
The heraldic relief from 1488 by King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Bohemia indicates the affiliation to Upper Lusatia. In 1903 the new town hall extension building in Renaissance Revival architecture was finished.
Origin
In the 13th century, bohemian magistrates, noble families and craftsman lived closely together. Multiple courtyards spread across the small city. The noble families and rich merchants married to form lineages. A civil administration consisting of council members has been established in 1264, lay judges exist since 1273 and the first mayor came to office in 1282, later leading to a council constitution. With the new rights, the city administration got more and more disentangled from the bohemian administration.
In 1303, Görlitz got the town privilege and began the plannings of an administration building. During this time a wooden construction was the place of administration. Due to a lack of space, they decided against a completely new building and instead decided to purchase an existing boehmian courtyard in the southwest of the Lower Market Square in 1350.
In 1369 the town hall was first mentioned in a report by the Görlitz council to the Emperor Charles IV, when a craftmans revolt was described:
History
The town hall features architectural styles from many eras. Both the interior and exterior have been altered several times over the centuries or have had to make way for more contemporary buildings.
Lower Market Square 6
Lower Market Square 6 is the oldest part of the town hall. It consists of the lower part of the tower and the building on the northern side. Originally, the building was the residence of a bohemian servant, dating back to pre-Gothic times, thus it contains one of the oldest building stocks of the town. The facade was mostly unplastered. Thus, one could examine the carefully crafted colorful joints of the brick structure.
There were two large pointed arch openings on the second floor of the building. They date back to gothic times and one can find them on old drawings. The room behind served as the mayor's official residence and was recognizable as such from the outside due to its high location.
In the beginning of the 16th century the building was raised in Gothic style. Further reconstruction measures were carried out in the 19th century axially aligned the window heights of the upper floors.
Town Hall Tower
The Turret was first mentioned in 1378. In 1511 to 1516 the tower was raised by superintendent of city construction Albrecht Stieglitzer to today's height. He justified the expansion that it would provide a better overview and better protection for the city. In 1524 a clock with two dials was added. Those were modified in 1584 by Bartholomäus Scultetus who joined the mechanisms of the day time clock with the upper moon phase clock. The lower clock has a head of a city guard in the center of the dial. According to legend, he was walled in alive inside the tower, because he overslept a town fire. Every minute the head opens his eyes and they begin to shine orange. This resembles the fire. In fear he opens his mouth.
A lion (the heraldic animal of Bohemia) is located on top of the two clocks in a gothic arch. First mentioned in 1564, it was supposed to scare away thieves with its powerful roar at midnight with the help of an organ. The historian Richard Jecht reports the lions roar was deactivated, because "pregnant woman were freightened" by it.
On 9. July 1742 a lightning strike destroyed the upper parts of the tower, which were reconstructed shortly afterwards. Two new upper clocks and two bells were added as well by Friedrich Körner from Sorau/Żary. In 1917 during World War I the bells were melt down for war production. A plaster cast of the larger one is preserved to this day and is located in the bay window of the town hall.
