Marktstraße Bad Tölz – development and historical context
Tölz’s Marktstraße is the urban and functional heart of the town and presents itself as an impressive ensemble of late medieval and baroque architecture. It was probably laid out as early as the 13th century by the Wittelsbach dynasty as a central market and transport axis, flanked by Tölz Castle and a crossing over the Isar – classic elements such as the river, road crossing and castle formed the ideal basis for the development of the settlement. From this grew the market town, which was granted market and ban rights in 1331 and built up along a slightly arched, approximately 400 metre long ridge.
Characteristic of the development are the stately town houses from the 15th to 18th centuries, whose façades are decorated with Lüftlmalerei and stencilled plaster ornaments. Many of the houses still belong to former merchant families and patricians. Significant buildings such as the old post office (1600), the Sporrerhaus, the Moralthaus, the Old Town Hall with its striking onion dome (15th century), the former girls’ school (1588), the Marienstift or the Pflegerhaus Kaspar Winzerer (1485) all play an important role in shaping the streetscape of Bad Tölz. Below the parish church, Gothic vaults in the cellar of the Metzgerbräu bear witness to the oldest castle complex, the remains of which date back to the late Middle Ages. It was not until 1770 that the original Tölz castle collapsed, whereupon the new baroque town hall was built on the castle square.
After the decay of numerous old town houses towards the end of the 19th century, the commitment of Munich architects – in particular Gabriel von Seidl – and local citizens’ initiatives initiated a comprehensive restoration in Tölz’s Marktstraße. Seidl based his work on a watercolour painting from 1800, which shows the street façades in their baroque colour palette, and added stucco reliefs and historical façade paintings. In this way, the lively, colourful appearance of Tölzer Marktstraße was preserved and strengthened.
Tölzer Marktstraße 33-59 – Architecture and façades in detail
In the higher section of the northern Marktstraße shown in the panorama, the street rises noticeably and presents an impressive juxtaposition of multi-layered architectural styles. The street features numerous rendered buildings with lavishly structured façades – with gabled roofs on all sides, often with kneeling storeys, and mostly Baroque in design. The four buildings still missing in the panorama up to the upper end of the street can be seen unfinished on the right under the detailed pictures.
Marktstraße 35 – Alte Hofapotheke
A three-storey gabled roof building with eaves, mezzanine and historicising plasterwork. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, it features colourful murals that underline its historical significance as a court pharmacy.
Marktstraße 39 – Gasthof Tölzer Hof
Former inn and current hotel in a three-storey flat gable roof building with a high kneeling storey. Visually characterised by neo-baroque façade painting by Heinrich Bickl from 1928 and artistic stucco ornamentation, the building core from the 18th century makes sensible use of the old substance.
Marktstraße 43 – Altes Rathaus
The former town hall, now a residential and commercial building, is a three-storey flat gable roof building with a gable medallion and characteristic onion domes as well as a historic façade. The core dates back to 1634, but was stylishly remodelled by Gabriel von Seidl in 1904-05.
Marktstraße 45 – Sporrerhaus
A typical bourgeois terraced house with a Baroque façade painting and stuccoed portal – also recognisable by its gabled roof with kneelers. The baroque building from the 18th century has recently been restored with paintings and shows the flourishing bourgeoisie of the time.
Marktstraße 57 – Moralthaus
The three-storey flat gabled roof building with decorative stucco, bay windows, basket arched doorway and gable fresco dates back to the 18th century. It was rebuilt in 1921 and features a fresco by Joseph Hillerbrand (1921), which depicts both moral and aesthetic motifs – an expression of the bourgeois self-image of past eras.
