January 2007
Glockenspiel Restoration Project
Though Christmas is long gone, jingling bells are still the talk of the town in Munich. The bronze bells of the Marienplatz Glockenspiel have suffered from air pollution and almost a hundred years of use. Some are even decayed past the point of repair. To ensure that the landmark’s melodies remain recognizable, the city is raising funds for a restoration effort. The work must be done off-site, and so all of the 43 bells must be dismantled and removed from their 80-meter-high perch atop the Rathaus. A few will fit down the stairs, but most must be taken through the Rathaus windows with a special crane. Because the New Gothic windows are rather small, parts of the Rathaus façade will be cut away during the process. In order for restoration to be finished by the city’s 850th anniversary year in 2008, the city must raise at least € 750,000 by the end of this month. Donations for the project may be sent to Account 424911 of the Stadtsparkasse München (BLZ 701 500 00, Verwendungszweck “Glockenspiel”).
