The second stop of the day on the way to Bernburg was in Wernigerode.
The town hall of Wernigerode is one of the most famous buildings of the Harz city. The building, which is located directly on the market square, is often used as a photo motif by guests of the city.
Wernigerode town hall as a visitor magnet
The town hall of Wernigerode was first mentioned in a document in 1277. The half-timbered building of late Gothic origin, which has survived to the present day, was built in the 15th century. In the middle of the 16th century the town hall of Wernigerode received its final appearance.
Once built as a spelhus, today’s Wernigerode Town Hall served the Counts of Wernigerode as a court house and the site of various medieval entertainments.
Guests of the town who visit the town hall of Wernigerode today can marvel at the figural decoration in addition to a remarkable half-timbered construction. The wooden figures present for the most part craftsmen, jesters and saints.
History of the town hall Wernigerode
On the site of today’s Wernigerode Town Hall there was a Richt-, Thing- und Spielhaus, which was first mentioned in a document in 1277. The last count of Wernigerode donated it to the town shortly before his death in 1427. Two years later, the city built a massive building with a wine cellar and a large guest room. In addition to court hearings, various festivals and celebrations were held in this building. It was also used for guest performances of traveling actors and singers.
After a fire in 1455, which reached the town hall of Wernigerode, a Ackerbürgerhaus was built to the west in 1480. This became the property of the city in 1530. Already in 1494 a half-timbered storey was added to today’s Wernigerode town hall. When another town fire raged in 1528, the Spelhus was preserved. At that time, the town council decided to convert it into a town hall. The total construction time was five years.
The once existing heavy gable was demolished except for the windows and replaced by the roof, which has been preserved until today. Administrative rooms were created from the vaults of the guest room. The banqueting hall was preserved until 1874. In 1543 the bell tower was added to the roof. The beautiful outside staircase leading to the banqueting hall was moved inside.
At the time of the Gründerzeit, no importance was attached to the appearance of the Wernigerode Town Hall. The annex on the left, dating from 1689, fell victim to demolition in 1872/74. In 1912 a wedding room was built here. After further extensive renovation and expansion work from 1936 to 1939, various new buildings were added, such as a savings bank next to Wernigerode Town Hall. The ballroom was rebuilt and the former weigh house underwent an extension… (eikipedia)