Buildings

Town hall on the market square

The town hall on the market square is one of the most important historical buildings in Kitzingen. It was built in the 16th century by the master builder Hans Eckart von Schaffhausen and designed in the Renaissance style. The building symbolises Kitzingen's economic importance as a wine trading town.

The façade is richly decorated with elements. The cubit refers to the town's measuring and market system. The coat of arms of the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach is a reminder of the town's former sovereign affiliation. The "Häcker" is clearly visible at the top of the front of the building on the corner and symbolises viticulture.

Market tower

Opposite the town hall is the round market tower, which dominates the market square with its height of 39 metres and octagonal spire. The tower was originally part of the inner city wall and served as both a watchtower and a prison.

Over time, the Marktturm was used for a variety of purposes, including as the central archive of the German carnival organisation Fastnacht. An office was located here until it was moved to the carnival building in Rosenstraße.

The base of the tower is surrounded by small shops, which blend it harmoniously into the hustle and bustle of the market square. During the Christmas season, the market tower takes on a very special significance: it becomes Bavaria’s largest Advent candle.

Falter tower

In the mid-15th century, Margrave Albrecht of Brandenburg-Ansbach had an outer wall built around the town of Kitzingen. This consisted of a wall, a moat and 32 towers with a total of four gates. The largest tower still standing is the Falterturm (formerly ‘Falltorturm’) with its sloping dome, which was built between 1469 and 1496 as a watchtower for the outer city wall. The ivy-covered round tower stands 52 metres high, with its foundations reaching 18 metres deep due to the former city moat. Since 1967, it has no longer housed the watchman who used to report fires and horsemen, as in the old days, but instead housed the official German Carnival Museum until 2011.

There are many stories surrounding the Falterturm’s crooked spire; here are a few of them: Due
to a shortage of water during the construction of the Falterturm, the mortar is said to have been mixed with wine. It is said
that during the construction of the spire, the carpenters had a few too many drinks, which is why the dome was built crooked.
At the wedding of a councillor’s son from Kitzingen, which took place by the city wall, the Falterturm – which had previously stood straight – bowed before the bride, a maiden from Sulzfeld. The tower congratulated her on her handsome groom and said: “When another maiden comes to Kitzingen, I shall stand upright again.” No maiden has come to Kitzingen for over 500 years…

Old Synagogue Culture Centre

Built between 1882 and 1883, the synagogue serves as a reminder of the town’s once-thriving Jewish community. Its exquisite interior and the domes of its towers were destroyed during the ‘Night of Broken Glass’ on 10 November 1938. Following its reconstruction, the synagogue is now used primarily for cultural purposes.