The Rotes Rathaus is the seat of Berlin’s mayor and the city’s Senate. The 247-room building near Alexanderplatz is a well-known landmark of the city due to its striking red brickwork.
It was built in the 1860s by Hermann Waesemann and has been used as a city hall ever since. It was largely destroyed in World War Two and subsequently reconstructed. After Germany was divided, the East Berlin Magistrate sat in the Rotes Rathaus and the West Berlin Senate in Schöneberg city hall. The building returned to being the seat of joint government upon the country’s reunification.
A trip to the Rotes Rathaus is well worth it for visitors to Berlin: its column hall is nine metres high and hosts an array of exhibitions and events. The brick structure, with its 74-metre tower, is very interesting on an architectural level. Inside, it’s worth stopping by the heraldic hall, which features the coats of arms of every district in Berlin and is used to receive dignitaries such as guests of state, and the large ballroom, which serves as a venue for receptions and events. The third-floor corridors contain portraits of all Berlin’s honorary citizens.
Visitors can view the Rotes Rathaus’ rooms from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. However, the city hall may be closed from time to time because of day-to-day operations or for security reasons – so, if you’re interested in visiting the Rotes Rathaus, we recommend checking its website in advance.
