01 City Hall Square
Landmark of the Lower Austrian capital - right in the heart of the baroque historic centre
BAKABU at City Hall Square
Intro
“Hey, Mimi Lou,” calls Bakabu as he arrives at the Firecracker Frog Pond with his best friend Charlie Gru. “What’s up?” croaks Mimi Lou, the strongest and wildest firecracker frog in all of Singeland. She lifts a heavy hammer and lets it fall onto a metal plate with a loud clang. “Oh my,” moans Charlie Gru, covering his ears. The clay pigeon knows all too well that Mimi Lou loves to forge cymbals.
“You have to come with us,” calls Bakabu. “But where to? You see, I’m in the middle of my work,” she replies. “Read this,” whispers Bakabu, opening an old book. “You know that the full moon is coming soon, and the wolves will sing their beautiful howls again.” “I wonder what that sounds like? I’d really like to hear that,” says Mimi Lou, reading aloud. “A long time ago, there was a wolf who could howl and sing more beautifully than any other. So beautifully that many cities erected statues of him. He even had his own song – the Wolf Song. And he spent most of his time in St. Pölten… where is that?” asks Mimi Lou. “We know,” answers Bakabu excitedly. “Uncle Cornet told us. St. Pölten is on Earth!”
“Hooray!” croaks Mimi Lou. “That means we have a journey ahead of us?” “Exactly,” smiles Bakabu. “Oh no, oh no, oh no,” moans Charlie Gru.
Town Hall Square
After a long journey, Bakabu, Charlie Gru, and Mimi Lou arrive at the Town Hall Square in St. Pölten. “W-W-Why are we landing here?” asks the clay pigeon. “Well, it’s logical,” croaks Mimi Lou. “We don’t know where to start looking for the song.” “Exactly,” Bakabu continues. “And if there’s a town hall, then we can ask for advice here.” Suddenly, loud bell sounds spread throughout the city.
“Oh dear,” shivers Charlie Gru. “Someone has already sounded the alarm.” “The ringing is coming from up there,” says Mimi Lou, pointing to the tower rising above the town hall. “Let’s go check it out.” “Wow,” exclaims Bakabu when the friends reach the top floor of the tower. “So many bells in one room.” “There are 48, if you want to be precise.” “Who said that?” asks Charlie Gru. “Oh, please forgive me.” A long snout appears from behind a bell, which could only belong to a wolf. “My name is Lups. And who are you?”
“Hello, Lups,” the earworm greets happily. “These are Mimi Lou and Charlie Gru, and I’m Bakabu. We come from Singeland and are looking for the famous Wolf Song. Can you help us?”
Bell Tower
“Sure,” replies Lups. “That was my famous great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Lupolderich of Passau,” explains Lups, pulling out a thick family album. “He came here to St. Pölten hundreds of years ago and became famous for his howling.” “Can you sing the Wolf Song for us?” asks Bakabu. “Unfortunately not,” Lups regrets. “I… I can’t.” “What can’t you do?” asks Mimi Lou skeptically. “Well, howl,” sniffs the wolf. “No one taught me. I only have the album about my famous ancestors.” “Did they also live here in the town hall and give good advice to visitors?” asks Charlie Gru timidly. “Oh, they were all over the city,” replies Lups. “By the way, the town hall is called that because the city councilors decide what should happen here. After all, St. Pölten is the capital of Lower Austria, the oldest city in Austria, and has the oldest city coat of arms. Even Lupolderich is depicted there.” “Really,” marvels Bakabu, looking at a picture of the coat of arms in the album. “And what’s this?” the earworm asks, pointing to something. “It looks like a sheet of music. Could it be the famous song?” “Unfortunately, it’s only a small part. The rest is probably lost. Like the howling,” says Lups sadly. “Oh, don’t worry,” Bakabu protests. “We’ll find both again. And your ancestors will surely help us.”
On the trail of history
The square - known as the "broad market" in the 14th century - was laid out in the 13th century above the Roman buildings. There was a pillory, a fountain and a market hall here.
The square is lined by the town hall:
- State theatre (1820),
- the Franciscan monastery (former Carmelite monastery) on the north side of the square from 1757. The church façade already shows rococo forms.
- The Holy Trinity Column was erected in 1767-82.
The square was redesigned by architect Boris Podrecca in 1995-96.
Town Hall
Together with the Franciscan Church opposite and the Lower Austrian State Theatre, the listed St. Pölten Town Hall lines the Town Hall Square with the Holy Trinity Column.
Today, the town hall is the seat of the mayor, city senate and municipal council. It also houses the city's media and cultural services as well as other parts of the municipal administration.
Building styles of St. Pölten Town Hall: from Baroque to Renaissance and Gothic Renaissance building (1503-91) with medieval core and baroque façade by Joseph Munggenast (1727).
