Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), Munich (must see)

The New Town Hall in Munich was constructed during the 19th century when the city was experiencing significant growth and prosperity. The existing Old Town Hall was too small to accommodate the needs of the local government, necessitating the construction of a new hall.

The chosen location for the New Town Hall was nearby, but it required the demolition of twelve buildings to clear the space. The construction of the hall took place between 1867 and 1908 and was designed by a young architect named Georg Hauberrisser, who was only 24 years old at the time.

The building showcases a Gothic Revival architectural style and boasts an impressive 400 rooms, covering an area of more than 9,000 square meters. Positioned overlooking Marienplatz, it also features a small garden at the rear, known as the Marienhof. In the basement, there's the Ratskeller restaurant. The first-floor balcony often opens for visitors to watch events in Marienplatz. The 85-meter-tall main tower has elevators for access.

One of the main attractions of the New Town Hall is the mechanical Glockenspiel, a two-level carillon consisting of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures, dating back to 1908. It performs a chiming and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century daily at 11am, 12pm, and 5pm during the summer months. The first story tells of Duke Wilhelm V marrying Renata of Lorraine, with a joust between life-sized knights on horseback, one representing Bavaria (white and blue) and the other Lothringen (red and white), with the Bavarian knight winning.

The second story, known as the Schäfflertanz (the coopers' dance), is set in 1517 during a plague outbreak in Munich. Legend has it that coopers, loyal to the duke, danced through the streets to inspire courage during tough times. This dance now represents resilience. It's performed in Munich every seven years during Fasching (German Carnival). Surprisingly, the official dance moves were defined in 1871, despite being described as an ancient tradition since 1700.

The entire Glockenspiel performance lasts between 12 and 15 minutes, depending on the selected tune for the day. As a concluding touch, a small golden rooster at the top of the Glockenspiel quietly chirps three times, marking the end of this captivating spectacle.