Town Hall

Town Hall, Melk
In the Middle Ages, there was a pub and a butcher's shop here. After two fires, the abbot gave the property to the citizens in 1575 for the construction of the town hall. The baroque facade was extensively renovated after the town fire of 1847. On the "Wehrtor" from the time of the First World War, donors to the "Widows and Orphans Fund" have immortalized themselves with nails and copper plates. To the left is the bust of Abbot Alexander Karl (1875-1909), who was particularly supportive of the town.
Text / Source: Melk Municipality, Rathausplatz 11, 3390 Melk
stadt-melk.at/de/LEBEN_in_MELK/Der_Rote_Faden/Rundgang/7_-_Rathaus

The story goes that the clock once stopped working in the 19th century and no one in the town knew how to get it working again. The citizens of Melk were at a loss and looked for a solution. Eventually a traveling clockmaker came to town and offered to help. He climbed the tower, examined the clock and found that a bird had built a nest in the clockworks! After the nest was removed and the clock was cleaned, it worked perfectly again. The citizens were so grateful that they treated the clockmaker to a banquet in the town hall cellar.

After two fires, the abbot gave the land to the citizens for the construction of the town hall.
The baroque facade was extensively renovated after the town fire of 1847.
On the "defensive gate" from the time of the First World War, donors to the widows and orphans fund have immortalized themselves with nails and copper plates. To the left is the bust of Abbot Alexander Kal (1874-1909), who was particularly supportive of the town.