The
Rathaus-Glockenspiel of
Munich is a tourist attraction in
Marienplatz the heart of
Munich.
Part of the second construction phase of the
New Town Hall, it dates from 1908. Every day at 11 a.m. (as well as 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in summer) it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the amusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. The top half of the Glockenspiel tells the story of the marriage of the local
Duke Wilhelm V (who also founded the world famous
Hofbräuhaus) to
Renata of Lorraine. In honour of the happy couple there is a joust with life-sized knights on horseback representing
Bavaria (in white and blue) and Lothringen (in red and white). The
Bavarian knight wins every time of course.
This is then followed by the bottom half and second story: Schäfflerstanz (the coopers' dance). According to myth, 1517 was a year of plague in Munich. The coopers are said to have danced through the streets to, "bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions." The coopers remained loyal to the duke, and their dance came to symbolize perseverance and loyality to authority through difficult times. By tradition, the dance is performed in Munich every seven years. This was described in 1700 as, "an age-old custom", but the current dance was defined only in 1871. The dance can be seen during
Fasching (German Carnival): the next one is in 2012.
The whole...
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