Rathaus Rapperswil
Encyclopedia
The Rathaus Rapperswil is the former Rathaus
in the city of Rapperswil
, Canton of St. Gallen
in Switzerland
.
of Rapperswil
at the Hauptplatz, the main square of the medieval town. The building replaced an earlier fortified tower probably built in early 13th century as part of the former town wall. A town hall respectively a city council is first mentioned in 1419 and 1433.
The building in its present form was built around 1470; renewals were made in 1866 and 1895. It served as the seat of the government respectively Rat (council) and latter of the Mayor
ending on December 31, 2006, when the former independent cities of Jona
and Rapperswil merged to form the municipality of Rapperswil-Jona
. Since January 1, 2007, the Stadthaus Rapperswil-Jona situated in Jona is the Town hall of the municipality.
The Rathaus building belongs to the Ortsbürgergemeinde Rapperswil (citizens association). It hosts a Restaurant, the city archives, and on Wednesdays the Bezirksgericht See-Gaster
(district tribunal) in the so-called "Richterstübli".
portal to the council chamber was made from a single oak tree. In the entrance hall on the first floor, there is shown the Julisbanner of 1512 and the former supraporta (also as a fresco on the eastern wall) of the Schloss Rapperswil. The small exposition includes a gold and silver treasure, the circular council table (1618), paintings by the Swiss artists Felix Maria Diogg and Johann Michael Hunger and stained glass windows.
to celebrate the Carnival festival Eis-zwei-Geissebei
.
In Rapperswil there are several sites situatead that are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance
: Schloss Rapperswil with the Polish Museum
including the Polish national archive, the medieval Rathaus and the Seedamm
region including Heilig Hüsli
and the remains of the prehistoric wooden bridges
respectively the neolithic stilt house settlements located there.
Rathaus
Rathaus is a German word literally translating as “council house”, meaning “city hall” or “town hall”. Many specific buildings are referred to as Rathaus even when spoken about in English.Some important Rathäuser are:* Rathaus Schöneberg...
in the city of Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
, Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
History
The Rathaus is located within the AltstadtAltstadt
Altstadt is the German language word for "old town", meaning "historical city centre within the city wall", in contrast to a Neustadt built outside later....
of Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
at the Hauptplatz, the main square of the medieval town. The building replaced an earlier fortified tower probably built in early 13th century as part of the former town wall. A town hall respectively a city council is first mentioned in 1419 and 1433.
The building in its present form was built around 1470; renewals were made in 1866 and 1895. It served as the seat of the government respectively Rat (council) and latter of the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
ending on December 31, 2006, when the former independent cities of Jona
Jona
Jona is a former municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.- Geography :Jona is located at the eastern shore of Lake Zürich...
and Rapperswil merged to form the municipality of Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
. Since January 1, 2007, the Stadthaus Rapperswil-Jona situated in Jona is the Town hall of the municipality.
The Rathaus building belongs to the Ortsbürgergemeinde Rapperswil (citizens association). It hosts a Restaurant, the city archives, and on Wednesdays the Bezirksgericht See-Gaster
See-Gaster (Wahlkreis)
See-Gaster is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis has been established on June 10, 2001 with an area of .It was formed from See District and Gaster District.-Demographics:...
(district tribunal) in the so-called "Richterstübli".
Sights
The late GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
portal to the council chamber was made from a single oak tree. In the entrance hall on the first floor, there is shown the Julisbanner of 1512 and the former supraporta (also as a fresco on the eastern wall) of the Schloss Rapperswil. The small exposition includes a gold and silver treasure, the circular council table (1618), paintings by the Swiss artists Felix Maria Diogg and Johann Michael Hunger and stained glass windows.
Culture
After the traditional "Herrenessen" (dinner of the council members) and cabaret program with distinguished guests, hundreds of children gather in the main square on Shrove TuesdayShrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
to celebrate the Carnival festival Eis-zwei-Geissebei
Eis-zwei-Geissebei
Eis-zwei-Geissebei is a Carnival festival held in Rapperswil on Shrove Tuesday.- History and origin :Its origin may go back to the siege and destruction of the city of Rapperswil at St. Matthew in 1350 by Rudolf Brun, first mayor of the city of Zürich...
.
In Rapperswil there are several sites situatead that are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
: Schloss Rapperswil with the Polish Museum
Polish Museum, Rapperswil
The Polish Museum, Rapperswil, was founded in Rapperswil, Switzerland, on October 23, 1870, by Polish Count Władysław Broel-Plater, at the urging of Agaton Giller, as "a refuge for [Poland's] historic memorabilia dishonored and plundered in the [occupied Polish] homeland" and for the promotion of...
including the Polish national archive, the medieval Rathaus and the Seedamm
Seedamm
Seedamm is the partially artificial dam and bridge at the most narrow area of Lake Zurich, between Hurden and Rapperswil .- Geography and location :...
region including Heilig Hüsli
Heilig Hüsli
Heilig Hüsli is a chapel in the city of Rapperswil, canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.- Geography :The chapel is located next to the so-called Seedamm, as of the today, situated on a small island on upper Lake Zürich on the Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden, a historical wooden bridge reconstructed in...
and the remains of the prehistoric wooden bridges
Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden
Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden is a wooden pedestrian bridge between the city of Rapperswil and the village of Hurden crossing the upper Lake Zürich in Switzerland. The prehistoric timber piles discovered to the west of the Seedamm date back to 1523 BC...
respectively the neolithic stilt house settlements located there.
Literature
- Peter Röllin: Kulturbaukasten Rapperswil-Jona. Rapperswil-Jona 2005. ISBN 3-033-00478-4