Its imposing exterior is decorated by statues of German emperors, including Barbarossa and Frederick II. Inside, 42 oil paintings and a priceless document tell the story of a milestone in European history: the 1648 Peace of Westphalia which brought the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) to an end. The striking handle on the door of the Town Hall,  in the form of a dove of peace, points the way from the past to the future.