The Rotes Rathaus, situated in Berlin’s Mitte district on Rathausstraße near Alexanderplatz, serves as the town hall of the city. This historic building is not only the residence of the governing mayor but also houses the government (the Senate of Berlin) of the state of Berlin. Its name, which means “Red City Hall” in English, derives from its iconic façade constructed using red clinker bricks.
Constructed between 1861 and 1869 by the architect Hermann Friedrich Waesemann, the Rathaus showcases the architectural style of Northern Italian High Renaissance. Its design took inspiration from the Old Town Hall of Thorn (present-day Toruń, Poland), while the tower’s architecture bears a resemblance to the cathedral tower of Notre-Dame de Laon in France. The Rotes Rathaus replaced several separate medieval buildings and now occupies an entire city block.