Munich
Marienplatz is the central square of Munich. On its north side stands the New Town Hall with the Glockenspiel, on its east side the Old Town Hall.
The New Town Hall
It is the seat of the mayor and the city council. Its style is Gothic Revival, which means it imitates medieval churches and palaces.
The tower is 85 metres tall.
What to look at from outside
At the top of the tower stands the Münchner Kindl, the child symbol of the city. Lower down is the great mosaic dial, restored in 2025.
The wedding scene alone has sixteen figures. The Glockenspiel was restored in 2007 and runs on solar power.
The Fish Fountain
Today's fountain is by the sculptor Josef Henselmann, from 1954. He reused parts of the earlier fountain from the 1800s.
Three bronze apprentices pour water from buckets into the basin. They recall an old festival of the apprentice butchers.
A square for celebrations
On the east side of the square stands the Old Town Hall, built between 1470 and 1475. Today it is used for ceremonies and award events.
In Advent the square fills with wooden huts and lights. A big Christmas tree stands in front of the town hall. In June the city celebrates its birthday here: it was founded in 1158.
