Alter Markt, Medieval market square in Stralsund, Germany
Alter Markt is a rectangular square in the heart of Stralsund, northern Germany, lined by some of the city's most notable brick buildings. The town hall and Saint Nicholas' Church form the most recognizable side of the square, standing directly next to each other.
The square took shape around 1200 when merchants settled in the area during the German eastward expansion and established a central trading ground. Its first written record, using the Latin word "forum", dates to 1277.
The name "Alter Markt" simply means "old market" in German, which reflects its original role as the main trading place of the city. Today visitors can walk across the paved square and look up at the town hall and Saint Nicholas' Church standing side by side, a sight that feels unchanged from earlier centuries.
The square sits in the center of the old town and is easy to reach on foot from most parts of the historic area, making it a natural starting point for a walk. On fair weather days it tends to attract more visitors, and during local events the space fills up noticeably.
During the renovation work completed in 2013, archaeologists found medieval coins and jewelry buried beneath the old pavement. These objects show that the ground beneath the square held traces of everyday trading life going back many centuries.
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