Basel Town Hall

The Town Hall (Rathaus) on Marktplatz square is the political centre of the canton of Basel-City, housing the Government Chamber and the Grand Council Chamber (the cantonal parliament). The main building, with its three pointed arches, was erected between 1504 and 1514 and subsequently extended, including a phase carried out in 1606–1608. Despite these additions, the façade presents a remarkably unified appearance, combining late-Gothic details with painted illusionistic architecture executed in the early 17th century by the painter Hans Bock. On the central arcade stands a bronze flood-level marker dating from 1537. Passing through the entrance gates, visitors reach an arcaded inner courtyard from which the tower added during a major renovation around 1900 can be seen.