Cologne City Hall

The City Hall (German: Kölner Rathaus) is a historical building in Cologne, western Germany.

This abundance of power in Medieval Europe was in stark confrontation to the emerge of emancipating burghers: armed conflicts in 1074[4] and 1096 were followed by the formation of a commune and first municipal structures as a basis for urban autonomy.

In order to consolidate their economic and political rights, Cologne burghers established fraternities and trade guilds (most notably the Richerzeche).

As – at the time – one of Europe's busiest trading ports and largest city in Germany, the population of Cologne gradually changed from a mainly feudal society to free citizens.

Commissioned by the Cologne guilds on 19 August 1406, the Gothic-style Ratsturm (Council tower) was built between 1407 and 1414 and reaches a height of 61 metres.

Its purpose was mainly to store documents, but one of the lower floors also housed the Senatssaal (i.e. hall of the Cologne Senate).

While being heavily damaged during the bombing of Cologne in World War II, the tower – including the many exterior stone figures – has been restored entirely.

Curiously, beneath the statue of Konrad von Hochstaden, there is a grotesque male character performing autofellatio.

Built on the North-western side of Rathausplatz in the years 1608 to 1615, the city council commissioned the originally Dutch Renaissance style building for meetings and celebrations.