Poznań Town Hall

The town hall in Poznan was originally a building of the Municipal Council on the Poznań Old Market. It was completed in 1555 by Giovanni Battista di Quadro in Renaissance style. Today it is one of the most valuable monuments of the Renaissance in Central Europe. Since 1954 it is a museum for the history of the city.

History

The earliest mention of the town hall in Poznan originates from the year 1310. The first town hall building was probably built shortly after the founding of the city in 1253. In a few centuries the city became one of the most important trade centers in Poland and could afford to entrust the renovation of the Town Hall the Ticino architect Giovanni Battista di Quadro from Lugano thus. In the years 1550-67 the town hall was rebuilt by him in the Renaissance style. It was raised by one floor, the roof covered from all sides with Attica and decorated the facade with a three-storey loggia. This makes it one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings north of the Alps.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was renovated. By the end of the Second World War was standing next to the built in late 19th century New Town Hall.

After the Second World War the building including all heavily damaged buildings of the Old Market was rebuilt. Today, it serves as a museum of the city. A tourist attraction is the movement on the facade of the town hall, where every day at twelve clock two goats appear and push each other to the beat of the hour strike.