Rathaus

The Rathaus (Town Hall) of Sarnen has stood at the centre of political and public life for over 600 years. More than an administrative building, it reflects the growing self-confidence of the community and its long tradition of self-government.

The First Town Hall

The first town hallwas built around 1418 on the site of today’s building. Before that, council meetings and court sessions were held in private houses, usually in the home of the Landammann (chief magistrate). With the construction of a dedicated town hall, Sarnen gained a permanent and representative place for justice and political decision-making.

This development followed a period of political success, including the liberation of Unterwalden from foreign courts by King Sigismund in 1415 and the military campaigns of the Swiss Confederates in Ticino.

The Great Fire of 1468

On 14 August 1468, a devastating fire destroyed 22 houses in Sarnen, including the town hall. According to tradition, the flames could only be stopped when Brother Klaus struck the fire with a cross from a nearby hill. The town hall was rebuilt on the same site and remained a powerful symbol of the community.

Functions of the Town Hall

Over the centuries, the building served many purposes. It housed the courtroom and meeting rooms, while the ground floor contained an official butcher’s shop from 1551. A dance hall on the first floor was closed in 1622 by council decree due to excessively exuberant celebrations. In 1677, prison cells were installed in the attic, where prisoners were held until their sentences were carried out.

Baroque Rebuilding

Between 1729 and 1732, the town hallwas rebuilt in the Baroque style by Hans Georg Urban. Parts of the older structure, including the ground floor and the grand staircase, were retained. The construction was financed using confiscated assets from the executed councillor Schmidhalter. Despite its new appearance, the building continued to serve as the centre of administration and justice.

The Gargoyles

During the rebuilding, two gargoyles were added to the corners of the mansard roof. Near the end of the First World War, they were nearly melted down for scrap metal. Photographer Josef Abächerli saved them, and in 1936 they were reinstalled. A third gargoyle was added at the same time, and a fourth followed in 1977.

Earthquake and Renovation

The earthquake of 1964 caused significant damage to the town hall. Extensive renovation work was carried out between 1977 and 1978 to stabilise the building. Since then, it has remained a key place for political and social life in Sarnen.

Rathausgasse

The narrow street beside the building, Rathausgasse, was once known as Schelmägässli, possibly because accused persons were led along it to court. Until the 1990s, it connected two small workshops: a copper smithy run by Paul and Adolf Dillier, and the bicycle workshop of Franz Slanzi.

These craftsmen were well-known local characters and were filmed in the early 1970s by Hans Wirz. The footage, now kept in the State Archive of Obwalden, offers a rare glimpse into everyday life in Sarnen.

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