Celle: Old Town Hall

The old town hall
in Celle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in the city of
Celle. It was built in 1292, when Duke Otto the Strict built the city according
to his plans and is until today an impressive testimony of the Dukes of Celle.

It is located near
the market, where the famous Christmas market also takes place every year in front
of Celle’s historic half-timbered buildings.

Celle Town Hall,
one of the oldest buildings in the city, consists of two parts. The older part
rises above the Ratskeller with its Gothic ribbed vault.

A kink in the
outer front marks the construction seam of the cultivation of 1580/81. In the
16th century, the older part of the building was also modernised and provided
with the elaborate façade painting, which was only rediscovered and
reconstructed in 1985. The northern gable, a masterpiece of Weser Renaissance,
also dates back to that time.

The coat of arms
of Duke Wilhelm the Younger and his wife Dorothea of Denmark can be found
above the entrance portal of the Old Town Hall Celle am Markt. It is believed
that the two figures on the two-storey bay window represent the emperor and his
wife.

In the Ratskeller
you can still find the Gothic cross vault from the period of 1292. On
08.06.1378 the Ratskeller received the ducal right to serve wine and foreign
beers. Thus, the Ratskeller in Celle is considered the oldest public house in
Lower Saxony.

On the upper floor
of the old town hall are the halls that were once used as market, court and
festival rooms. The flair of these rooms is partially preserved to this day.

ince new Town Hall
Celle opened in 1999, the old town hall serves, among other things, as the seat
of the Tourist Information, the administration of the Castle Theatre and as a wedding
venue