Demokratie bauen!

Rathaustouren: Rathäuser per Rad – Rüsselsheim und Bischofsheim am Main

This guided bike tour combines two fascinating tours of City Hall with a bike ride through the Trebur floodplain landscape.

In Rüsselsheim, Dr. Jonathan Roth and Petra Neumüller from the Office of Culture and Diversity will take participants on a journey through the history of City Hall and the City Council. Built in 1952, the building replaced the Old City Hall near the city church, which was demolished in 1939. We will also visit the long-term project “Leuchtende Vorbilder” and the painting “Wir lieben Marschieren” by Hans Diebschlag, which commemorates the history of the pilot murders in Rüsselsheim. In Bischofsheim, the Old Town Hall, with its museum housed in restored rooms, invites visitors to explore its exhibits, which have been curated by the Local History Association since 1996. The building, once the mayor’s office, schoolhouse, and teacher’s residence, will be introduced by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schneider. Bernd Schiffler and Mechthild Rühl will guide us through the two permanent exhibitions—one on the village development of Bischofsheim and the other on the town’s railway history.

Free of charge

Start: Groß-Gerau-Dornberg Station, End: Bischofsheim Station

Registration required: not yet available; please send a reservation request by email to info@krfrm.de

Town halls occupy a special place among public buildings. Since the Middle Ages, they have symbolized local self-government. In a democracy, many expectations are placed on their design: whether as representative structures of local democracy or as central hubs that foster identity and community. Here, the sovereign encounters itself, so to speak.

Several day-long excursions via public transit, bus, or bicycle connect town halls in both smaller and larger towns across the region. They span the history of town hall architecture from its origins in the Middle Ages to the present day. Local partners explain local stories and architectural features and lead visitors into the heart of the town halls: the council chambers.

Participation in the tours requires a small fee. The number of participants is limited, and registration is required. Registration can be made through KulturRegion and/or the contact listed below for each tour.