Place du Bourg-de-Four, Medieval square in Old Town, Switzerland.
Place du Bourg-de-Four is a paved square in the Old Town surrounded by cream-colored buildings with traditional shuttered windows. A white marble fountain from the 18th century sits at its center, and the entire space is laid with cobblestones that give it a timeless, historic feel.
The square developed on the site of a Roman forum that served as an ancient trading point for the city. In medieval times it became a marketplace, and surviving arches of old gates at number 14 still mark traces of that earlier Roman layer.
The square takes its name from the medieval market that once operated here, and it still serves as a gathering place where locals and visitors sit at outdoor tables around the central fountain. Cafés and restaurants line the edges, maintaining the centuries-old function as a social hub where people meet and spend time together.
The square is easily reached from multiple directions, and getting to Saint Pierre Cathedral requires climbing a narrow staircase with many steps. The area around the square has plenty of outdoor seating at cafés and restaurants where you can rest and watch the surroundings.
The square has an unusual hourglass shape that becomes apparent as you move through its different sections. On one side, a large palace of justice anchors the space, while on the other, trees create a more sheltered feeling and separate the area visually.
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