Built 1441-1447 as a municipal dance hall and department store. The festival hall located on the upper floor was used for municipal festivites and functions, the ground floor was used as a department store. In the 17th century, the whole building was only used as a department store. From ca. 1820 revival of the building as a festival and concert venue. Since then also used for carnival balls. From 1857 to 1986 home to the Gürzenich-Orchester. Extensions in the 19th century. Ground floor used by the local Stock Exchange. Destroyed in 1943, with only the exterior walls remaining. Rebuilt in modern style within the existing walls from 1948. 1996-1997 renovations and modernization, conversion into a congress centre. Currently mainly used for congresses, exhibitions, concerts, and carnival balls. The building includes two halls: Großer Saal (1101 seats) and Isabellensaal (234 seats).

Notable world premieres:

• Johannes Brahms: Concert for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (18 Oct 1887)
• Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (5 Nov 1895)
• Richard Strauss: Don Quixote (8 Mar 1898)
• Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (18 Oct 1904)