Old and New Town Halls of Freiburg

Old - New Town Hall, Freiburg im Breisgau
Freiburg has the great privilege of having several town halls. Distinguishing between them is tricky, however, because the New Town Hall is older than the Old Town Hall, and the oldest town hall in the city is called the Rechtslaube.
But don't worry, we'll try to solve the confusion for you:
Court arbor from 1303, the city's first town hall
The old town hall, completed in 1559, has been the seat of administration since its completion
The new town hall, built between 1539 and 1545, has also been used as a town hall since 1891
The reason for the unusual naming lies in the history of the buildings. King Maximilian I complained at the end of the 15th century that the court arbor was too small and “clumsy”. Due to a lack of space, the Old Town Hall was completed in 1559 and the majority of Freiburg's administration moved there. Since the New Town Hall belonged to the university until 1891, its use as an administrative building is new, but the building is the older of the two. Even today, the different administrative units are still spread across both town halls. The court arbor premises are used for official receptions. So much for orientation.
The New Town Hall was created from the connection of two magnificent Renaissance houses, which was created by a representative, gable-decorated column portal. After a number of renovations, the New Town Hall acquired its current appearance at the end of the 19th century. Since then, larger windows, balconies and bay windows have adorned the whitewashed building. The interior of the New Town Hall is also a true gem. Elaborate wood carvings and stucco ornaments on the ceilings conjure up a romantic flair in the spacious rooms. Here, in the former work rooms of the north wing, the people of Freiburg particularly like to say “I do”.
Text / Source: City of Freiburg, Rathausplatz 2-4, 79098 Freiburg
visit.freiburg.de/attractions/neues-rathaus

Great town hall in Freiburg (New Town Hall). Beautiful architecture. The Old Town Hall and the tourist information center are right next door.

The magnificent "Old Town Hall" is right next to the New Town Hall.
Today the Tourist Information is located on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall.
visit.freiburg.de/instrumente/altes-Rathaus