Altemberger House - first Gothic phase

 place with historical importance, Gothic (architecture), Medieval / Middle Ages, invisible, historical building, historic site, 15th century construction

first gothic phase of Altemberger House circa 1475-1491

The oldest medieval archaeological traces belong to a structure built out of light material (wooden beams joined together with clay). On the edge of the terrace, present day area of the History Museum garden, there was during an early period, probably the 13th or 14th century, a storehouse with a deepened floor, measuring 5,50 m x5 metres and having a cavity dug out at one corner. This structure was
burned down and in the ground the traces of the charred beams were discovered, as well as great chunks of burned clay along with ceramic fragments from kitchen and luxury pottery items.
The historical analysis endorses as founder of the 'Townhall' building the mayor of the city and Royal judge, Thomas Altemberger, who dominated the city politics and The Saxon University between 1470 and 1491. Only a person of such uncontested authority could initiate a construction plan of such proportions in an area of social and strategic importance. On the other hand we need to bring in relief the contribution of Affra ,Thomas Altemberger’s wife, to the erection of the building even after his death. The setting of the Affra coat of arms at important sited in the building (the loggia, the bow window, the tower house entrance), the records of her name after 1491
the city magistrate’s account books, her alleged marriage to a high city official, such as Johannes Lulay who set his own coat of arms over the main entrance, prove the noble Lady’s contribution to the establishing of the 'Townhall' building.

The first stage of the erection of the building, probably between 1475 (the year of Thomas Altemberger’s marriage to Affra) and 1491, the year of his death, included older structures: the gate tower and the abutting enclosure wall, and a masonry structure, later probably turned into a latrine.