Typology: town hall
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The town hall of #Bremen, a premier example of brick gothic and Weser Renaissance architecture, dominates the market square. Its predecessor, a romanesque council house mentioned from 1229, likely served as a law court before the city gained autonomy. Around 1400, during Bremen's medieval prosperity, a bold new gothic town hall was built to challenge the archbishop's power, featuring two large halls (upper for festivities, lower for merchants), fortified wall-walks, small towers, and a facade adorned with imperial statues and philosophers. From the late 15th century, renaissance extensions appeared, but the major Weser Renaissance overhaul came under Lüder von Bentheim (1595-1612): pointed arches gave way to grand rectangular windows, a prominent avant-corps with slim columns, large windows, Flemish gables, reliefs, and Dutch-inspired decorations transformed the market facade into a civic showcase of wealth and independence.
