Old town hall

The Old Town Hall is a historic building in downtown Leipzig. This city landmark is located directly on the market square.

Built in 1556 and 1557 by Hieronymus Lotter, the Old Town Hall is one of the outstanding examples of German Renaissance architecture. Along with St. Thomas Church and St. Nicholas Church, the Old Town Hall is an authentic Bach site in Leipzig. In 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach was elected Thomaskantor here, signed his contract, and took his oath of office. The Old Town Hall houses a wealth of valuable artifacts from Leipzig’s musical history, which can be discovered on a tour along the Leipzig Music Trail.

Until the early 20th century, it served as the seat of Leipzig’s city administration. Since 1909, the building has been home to the City History Museum. The Naschmarkt, with the Old Stock Exchange, is located at the rear and can be reached via a passageway. The entrance to the museum is also located in this passageway.

The permanent exhibition, spread over two floors with an attic and a dungeon-like basement, is organized under the titles “Leipzig Original: From the Middle Ages to the Battle of the Nations” and “Modern Times: From Industrialization to the Present,” showcasing Leipzig’s eventful history from its beginnings to the present day through approximately 2,000 objects. Among the most significant exhibits are Haussmann’s portrait of Bach from 1746 and Katharina von Bora’s wedding ring from 1525.