Neuer Markt

The Neuer Markt is a roughly square-shaped plaza at the heart of Rostock where multiple streets converge and connect to the main shopping street of Kröpeliner Straße. Historic buildings with distinctive facades frame the space and define its overall character.

The plaza originated in 1265 when three separate districts merged and consolidated their central activities at this location. The construction of distinctive gable houses transformed the market into the city's main trading center.

The Möwenbrunnen fountain with its four bronze sea figures - Neptune holding his trident, Nereus, Triton with a shell, and Proteus - shapes the heart of the plaza. This water sculpture serves as a natural gathering point where visitors and locals meet.

The plaza is most easily reached by heading along Kröpeliner Straße, which leads directly to the center. Visitors should plan to come Tuesday through Saturday when regional vendors offer fresh produce, fish, meat, and local goods.

Six original gable houses from the 15th and 16th centuries stand on the western side, with house number 16 displaying particularly notable Renaissance architectural details. These colorful buildings with their distinctive rooflines tell the story of the plaza's rich trading past.