Rathaus

Cologne City Hall

Rathaus (German pronunciation: [ˈʁaːthaʊs]) 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 (Berlin)
• Rotes Rathaus (Berlin)
• Römer (Frankfurt am Main) (Frankfurt)
• Rathaus (Hamburg)
• Neues Rathaus (Hannover)
• Rathaus (Köln)
• Altes Rathaus (Munich)
• Neues Rathaus (Munich)
• Rathaus, Vienna

Derivatives

Ratusz is the Polish word for city hall. It also serves as metonymy for burmistrz (mayor), derived from the German Bürgermeister. In Ukraine, particularly in the western part of the country, and in Belarus, ratusha (Ukrainian: Ратуша) is usually the name of the city hall. Several cities in Estonia, particularly those whose histories trace to the Hanseatic era, call their city councils raad and their houses raekoda. Some town houses in Finland are also called raatihuone.

• Ratusz (Warsaw Metro)
• Poznań City Hall

Surnames

• Chris Rathaus
• Karol Rathaus, a Polish composer