Frankenberg - Rathaus

In medieval times the area around was fought for by different parties. In 1232 Konrad of Thuringia, brother in law of Saint Elisabeth, had a fortified complex built here, that dominated the entire middle valley of the Eder river. There were a castle and an ecclesiastical area. Immediately the city was built with a large marketplace. It was obviously planned to have a strong bastion and to take advantage of the favourable traffic conditions.

The inhabitants of the new town were composed of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages and hamlets, who were resettled or voluntarily left their old homes. Frankenberg was soon surrounded by a mighty wall. Of the 25 towers and gates of the old town, only one still exists, the five city gates have disappeared.

The Town Hall of Frankenberg (Rathaus) is located right in the historic centre of the city. The first town hall here was demolished in 1421, the successor burnt down in 1476. The third town hall building, which is preserved today, was built from 1509 to 1513. Since this time, the ground floor of the Town Hall, called "Schirn", is used as a covered market.