Einwilligung zur Nutzung.

You are now inside a small vault (Cellar 1) outside the foundation walls of the former Altstädter Rathaus ('Old Town Hall'). If you look closely, you will discover that only two of the four corners of the cellar are rectangular. Maybe you will also notice that, on the western and northern sides, the flagstones on the floor and the masonry of the vaulting do not properly align with the walls. Apparently, these walls were added later.

During surveying work for the remodelling of the town museum, half a vault (Cellar 2) – bricked up lengthwise and in the same oblique position – was discovered in the adjacent building extension.

Both vaults are the remains of a cellar dating back to a structure that precedes the Altstädter Rathaus ('Old Town Hall'). The building burnt down in 1706 evidently had an orientation deviating strongly from that of the present-day structure. Part of the old vaulting was incorporated into the new basement during construction (1734–1740) of the Altstädter Rathaus ('Old Town Hall').

This development prompted Erlangen's historical society in 1988 to conduct a survey of basements in the Old Town, beginning with the area around Martin-Luther-Platz, in order to obtain clues as to the town's original layout. Most of the documents relating to the Old Town before 1706 had been destroyed in the great town fire.

The two plans exhibited in the centre of the room document the results of this research. Please note in particular the small cellars situated at an oblique angle.