The Altes Rathaus on Esslingen's Marktplatz is one of the finest Renaissance civic buildings in Baden-Württemberg. The ground floor is late Gothic, built in 1430 when Esslingen was at the height of its power as an Imperial City; the upper storey was rebuilt in the Renaissance style between 1564 and 1586, creating a satisfying architectural collision between the two periods.
The facade is richly decorated with carved ornament, gilded figures, and coloured coats of arms. The astronomical clock, made in 1592 by the Esslingen clockmaker Eberhard Baldewein, remains in working order and chimes on the hour. The building still functions as Esslingen's town hall. The interior is not normally open to visitors, but the exterior, especially when illuminated at night or seen against the backdrop of the Christmas market, is one of the most photographed sights in southern Germany.