If you are in Koblenz and visit the Koblenz Town Hall (Rathaus), a real highlight awaits you in the heart of the city. The town hall is not just an administrative building, but also an impressive structure with a lot of history and charm. It consists of two parts: the Cistercian convent, which originally dates back to the 16th century, and the Jesuit grammar school, which was built in the 17th century. You can recognize this by the different design of the façades – late Renaissance on the one hand and early Baroque on the other. The town hall is located on Koblenz’s Jesuitenplatz square, a lively square with inviting cafés and restaurants. Here you can relax and watch the hustle and bustle while admiring the architecture of the town hall. It is particularly beautiful to see the town hall in Koblenz at sunset, when the façade is bathed in warm light. It is a centerpiece of the city and a popular photo motif.
History: Koblenz town hall emerged from Jesuit monastery
Koblenz Town Hall looks back on a long and fascinating history that is closely linked to the development of the city. Towards the end of the 16th century, the Jesuits came to Koblenz and took over an existing monastery in 1580. Shortly afterwards, they also erected a palatial school building – the Jesuit grammar school. The building was constructed between 1694 and 1701.
Ab 1895 zog die Stadtverwaltung ein und nutzte sowohl das ehemalige Kloster als auch das Jesuitengymnasium als Rathaus. Während das Kloster im Stil der Spätrenaissance erbaut wurde, zeigt das Jesuitengymnasium typische Elemente des Frühbarocks. Die kunstvollen Fassaden und liebevollen Details sind bis heute sichtbar.
Between 1912 and 1915, simple new buildings were added to the ensemble. Despite their restraint, they blend in harmoniously with the historic buildings.
Special tips: Relax in the inner courtyard of Koblenz Town Hall
The best way to experience Koblenz Town Hall (Rathaus) is from two sides: From the front, Jesuitenplatz is directly in front of it – a lively meeting place with markets, events and many opportunities to linger. Especially in the evening, when the lights come on, the square has a very special atmosphere. Here you can watch the hustle and bustle. The inner courtyards offer another perspective. The town hall has four inner courtyards. We particularly recommend the large inner courtyard. You enter through a beautiful portal. If you keep to the right, you will come to the Schängelbrunnen fountain – an interesting sight in Koblenz. The figure on the fountain will spit at you if you get too close. The inner courtyard is a cozy square surrounded by the beautiful buildings of Koblenz town hall. There are tall trees, inviting benches and beautiful green planting – all in the middle of the old town. This is the ideal place to slow down. If you’re tired from sightseeing, you can relax here.
Surroundings: Numerous Koblenz sights within walking distance
Koblenz Town Hall is close to numerous other sights in Koblenz. First of all, you can visit the old town of Koblenz with all its sights. You can walk to Koblenz Electoral Palace in just 10 minutes. Koblenz Electoral Palace ( Kurfürstliches Schloss) is a magnificent building. In front of it is a beautifully landscaped palace garden. It is also only a 10-minute walk to the German Corner (Deutsches Eck). You should definitely visit it when you are in Koblenz. This is where the Rhine and Moselle flow together. The imposing Kaiser Wilhelm Monument looks out over the rivers. A beautiful walk along the Rhine takes you from there to the cable car (Seilbahn). This takes you to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in a beautiful ride with a view of Koblenz. It sits imposingly above Koblenz and offers a fantastic view of the Deutsches Eck and Koblenz.
