Envision Lichtenberg as a small village. It is at the end of the 19th century. The population exploded. A grand town hall was needed. That’s how the Rathaus Lichtenberg came to be.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg stands before you. It is not just a building. It is a symbol of Lichtenberg’s growth. It represents its ambition.
In the late 1800s, Lichtenberg was booming. The population grew tenfold in a decade. The old village needed a proper administrative center. A commission formed in 1892 decided on the location. They chose the then Dorfstrasse. This is now Möllendorffstrasse.
The municipality wanted city rights. A suitable town hall was essential. Construction began on October 1, 1896. Franz Emil Knipping oversaw the project. The actual architect remains unknown. Some suspect Max Hasak. However, there is no proof. The archives were destroyed during World War II.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg was completed on November 11, 1898. A festive inauguration took place. The costs totaled 396,664.89 Mark. That is about 3 million Euros today.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg has a neo-Gothic style. It features brickwork from the late 19th century. It is a three-story building. It has a hipped roof. The main entrance is four stories high. It includes a stepped gable. A square turret sits on top. It is topped with a copper lantern and spire.
A metal eagle once adorned the lantern. It fell off and was displayed in a local museum. In 2013, a copper griffin replaced it. It now resides in a display case near the council chamber. This is for safety reasons.
World War II severely damaged the Rathaus Lichtenberg. It was gradually restored by 1959. Renovations occurred in 1963, 1981-1984, and 2006-2007. The work in 2006-2007 cost 270,000 Euros. Further renovations took place from 2023 to 2025. The focus was on energy efficiency and facade restoration.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg has a unique design. It is a sharp-angled building. It features brickwork in the Mark Brandenburg style. The entrance is beveled. The side wings connect via a quarter-circle tract. This creates a peaceful inner courtyard.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg boasts decorative gables. It has bay windows and balconies. Mosaics depict the Brandenburg and Lichtenberg coats of arms. These mosaics and the clock face were made by Puhl & Wagner. Red bricks contrast with green glazed bricks. White and ocher plaster fields add color.
The entrance has wrought-iron grilles. Erich Retzdorf created them in 1937. A swastika was covered up. It will be replaced. A granite staircase leads to the foyer. The foyer has cross-ribbed vaults. Painted medallions depict trade, commerce, agriculture, and transport. They symbolize unity and justice.
A wooden handrail ends in lion heads. Three secondary entrances face the courtyard. Originally, there were entrances on both street sides. These are now bricked up.
Inside the Rathaus Lichtenberg, the foyer welcomes visitors. A wooden lion bears the Lichtenberg coat of arms. Three staircases connect the floors. The main staircase features stained glass. It shows the old Lichtenberg coat of arms. Another window shows symbols of the DDR era.
The corridors have rounded arches and colored ribs. The doors are set in arched niches. Fantasy crests decorate the corners. The floors are tiled in a checkerboard pattern.
In 2005, an elevator was added. This made the building accessible. The council chamber is on the first floor. It has a sandstone portal with the Lichtenberg coat of arms. Originally two stories high, it was divided in the 1950s. The mayor’s offices face Möllendorffstrasse.
The former wedding hall was on the first floor. Since the last renovation, the registry office is on the ground floor. From 1986 to 2007, the registry office was in a villa. Weddings can now take place in the Rathaus Lichtenberg or the villa.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg’s vaulted cellar housed a restaurant. From 1986 to about 2004, it was the Ratskeller. It is now an art gallery.
In the early 20th century, the Rathaus Lichtenberg housed various offices. These included the registry office and the cadastral office.
Since 2013, a Buddy Bear has stood outside. It represents Lichtenberg’s economy. It shows the district’s achievements. Students designed it.
In 2021, benches from Lichtenberg’s partner cities were placed here.
The Rathauspark lies between the town hall and Frankfurter Allee. It stretches from Möllendorffstrasse to Rathausstrasse.
Many mayors have shaped Lichtenberg’s history in this building. Oskar Ziethen was one of the most important. He served from 1896 to 1921.
The Rathaus Lichtenberg may not hold all district offices. However, it remains a central symbol. It embodies Lichtenberg’s past and present. Take a moment to appreciate its architecture. Consider its role in shaping this community.