Glockenspiel

In Essen's pedestrian zone at Kettwiger Straße 22, a historic carillon holds court; it has been a protected landmark since 2017. Originally built in 1928 for the Deiter jewelry store at a different location, the bronze bells survived World War II because they were hidden in the Sauerland. After the old company headquarters was destroyed, the ensemble was rebuilt in 1949 at the new downtown location. When the building was replaced by a modern new structure in the 1950s, the carillon was given a prominent spot in an oriel with a glass-mosaic facade, which takes its stylistic cues from the clock tower of San Marco and stands out especially for its contrast with the surrounding grid facade.

The mechanism consists of 26 bronze bells, which are sounded by electromagnetically driven hammers. The Westminster chime rings every quarter hour, while the copper miner figure by sculptor Adolf Wamper strikes the full hours with a mallet. Afterward, the bells play well-known folk songs or, during the Christmas season, holiday melodies. The musical prelude comes from an animated goldsmith's workshop in the lowest section of the oriel, a nod to the jeweler's tradition.

The real highlight is the moving procession of figures, which tells the story of Essen. First, two medieval citizens appear, ringing small bells to announce the three central figures of the city's founding: Bishop Altfrid, Emperor Henry III, and Abbess Theophanu. They are followed by fanfare trumpeters and other historical figures such as Heinrich Barenbroch, Duke William of Cleves, and a mayor holding the city key. The finale is the Vigilant Little Rooster, a medieval city symbol that turns on the topmost pedestal, flaps its wings, and crows.