City Hall with the Grafeneckart and Vierröhrenbrunnen Fountain

Würzburg City Hall is made up of several buildings that were constructed at various times. The oldest part is the over-50-metre-tall tower dating from the 13th century, known as the Grafeneckart. Adjacent to it on the western side is the Roter Bau, or Red Building, which goes back to the Renaissance period. In the Grafeneckart, Würzburg has one of the oldest city halls in Germany. The tower’s name stems from its original owner: Eckhard de Foro, who bore the title of Graf or Count. At the beginning of the 14th century, the municipal council bought the tower to use it as the city hall. The imposing building bears witness to the increasing self-assurance of the people of Würzburg – and their struggle for independence from the powerful local rulers, the prince-bishops...