Burgplatz, Square in Braunschweig, Germany

Burgplatz is a central square in Braunschweig, Germany, lined by the Dankwarderode castle hall, the cathedral, and several historic houses. The open stone-paved area is anchored by a bronze lion statue from 1166, with building facades showing styles from medieval to classicist periods.

The site began as a flat castle on a natural island in the Oker river, built by the Brunonen family in the 9th century. Duke Heinrich the Lion made it the Welf power center in the 12th century, and the surrounding ditch and walls were later removed as streets and public buildings replaced the old riverside.

A tiny bookshop called Antiquariat am Burgplatz, squeezed into a corner since 1949, holds the title of Germany's smallest bookstore. In summer, the square fills with open-air theater and markets, while December brings the stalls and warm lights of the Christmas fair.

The square is flat and open, easy to cross on foot from any side, with several cafes and restaurants just around the corner. Early mornings and weekdays offer the most room to move, while the paving stays even enough for strollers and wheelchairs.

The Palas took several direct hits in the Second World War, while the cathedral lost part of its roof and some windows; the surrounding old town was 90 percent destroyed. The square's red and green Beucha granite porphyry paving, with its rough, uneven surface, was laid when the cathedral was turned into a National Socialist "national shrine."