Haidplatz, public square in Regensburg, Germany

Haidplatz is a wide open square in the center of Regensburg’s old town, edged by tall patrician houses and the Justitia fountain. Around it, narrow lanes lead off toward other historic squares, making the space feel like a natural meeting point.

After the Romans withdrew, the growing population turned this open ground into a central gathering place. In the late medieval period, wealthy families and civic institutions built their houses here, fixing its role in city life.

The name Haid comes from the Old High German Heida, meaning scrub-covered ground outside the Roman legionary camp of Castra Regina. In the Middle Ages the square hosted knightly tournaments, including one in 1393 with 300 knights, and a legendary duel between Hans Dollinger and the heathen Krako. Today it hosts cultural events such as the Bavarian Jazz Weekend.

The ground is paved with smooth stones, so flat shoes make walking easier, especially after rain. Benches and open space allow you to rest and watch the flow of people moving toward the cathedral or the nearby market squares.

The name Haid derives from the Old High German Heida, meaning scrub-covered ground outside the Roman legionary camp of Castra Regina. In 2009, trial excavations near the mouth of Rote Hahnen-Gasse found evidence of a large Romanesque patrician palace from the 12th century that stood in the middle of the square; its disappearance in the 16th century gave Haidplatz its present shape and size.