Rathaus (Town Hall) on Kornmarkt

The Rathaus, or Town Hall, stands on the Kornmarkt in the Old Town of Lucerne, Switzerland, directly on the north bank of the Reuss. It was built between 1602 and 1606 to designs by the architect Anton Isenmann and is considered a prominent example of Late Renaissance civic architecture in Switzerland, with Italian-influenced elements such as the large hipped roof and the ground floor arcade. The Kornmarkt itself was historically the grain market, and the building's position at the water's edge allowed goods to be unloaded by boat. The Rathaus replaced earlier structures and became the seat of the Lucerne patrician council, which governed the city and its territories until the end of the Ancien Régime in 1798. The tall roof and the clock tower at the corner are its main visible features from the street. Inside, the council chamber contains carved wooden ceilings and panelling from the period, and the building has long housed the city's administrative offices. Today the Rathaus still hosts the city executive and meetings of the Grosser Stadtrat, the city parliament, so public access to the interior is limited. The exterior can be viewed freely at all hours, and the square in front is a lively market place on certain days. The façade has been restored several times, and it remains in good condition. For visitors the Rathaus is best appreciated as part of an Old Town walk that includes the Kapellbrücke, the Jesuitenkirche and the painted facades of the nearby Weinmarkt. The building is protected as a Swiss heritage site, and its interior can occasionally be seen on organised guided tours.