Hauptmarkt

Description:

• The market place bustles with life throughout the year. During advent time, Germany's most famous Christmas Market, the Christkindlesmarkt is held here and as are many of the events that form part of the Altstadtfest in September.On a normal weekday, you will find market vendors selling local produce: fresh fruit and veg to flowers and fine cheeses. In May, it is the scene of an Asparagus market.It is relatively large for a medieval square. Wheras it was once surrounded by fine merchant and patrician houses, it was reduced to rubble in World War Two. Today, only the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) and the Beautiful Well (Schöner Brunnen) hint at its former glory.Its history, which dates from the 14th Century, is grim to say the least. Once the Jewish ghetto, Hundreds died here. Their houses were walled up and set alight. In the Thirties, the Nazis burnt 'undesirable' books here, as a scorch mark on the square reminds us.
• © wcities.com 2012