On the banks of the river Reuss, near the Rathausbrücke bridge, stands the Old Town Hall with its distinctive clock tower. In 1370, a covered market was built here, offering the best view of Lucerne. At the beginning of the 16th century, part of the market was demolished and a strong square tower was built in its place, which is now adorned with two clocks: a regular clock and an astronomical clock.
In 1602, the city municipality commissioned the architect and mason Anton Isemann to rebuild the old market into a comfortable city hall. Craftsmen who had travelled from Northern Italy worked on the rebuilding of the mansion. The building was built in the style of Milanese dwellings, but the roof structure was borrowed from the traditional farm buildings of the Emmental region. This mix of styles was due to the local weather conditions: the large roof canopy protected the building from wind and slanting rain. Four years later, on 24 June, the Lucerne City Council held its first meeting in the new town hall.
It can be said that the original purpose of the building, which was located on the site of the current town hall, has been remembered in modern times. In the open arcade of the building on the river side, a farmer's market selling organic produce is held several times a week. All the housewives of Lucerne come here to shop. The Kornschütte building next to the town hall, which used to be a shop, has now been converted into an exhibition centre.
Lucerne's Old Town Hall is easily accessible as part of a guided tour. The building has preserved original furniture, valuable works of art, wooden parquet from past centuries and carved wall panels.
