Marktplatz, square in Düsseldorf, Germany

Marktplatz is a central square in Düsseldorf’s old town, shaped like a near-square of roughly fifty meters per side and framed by old buildings on all four edges. It is bordered by the city hall complex to the west and north, with a row of shops and eateries along the eastern side.

The square appeared in records in 1392 after the town expanded and needed a new market area. In 1544, city leaders moved into a building here, and in the early 1500s a follower of Martin Luther preached and debated at a nearby inn.

Each 11 November at 11:11 the Hoppeditz awakens on Marktplatz before the Rathaus, opening the Düsseldorf carnival with a biting-ironic exchange with the mayor. On Rosenmontag the parade passes the town hall balcony, where officials watch and a television camera broadcasts live. Around mid-November the oldest St. Martin's procession ends here with a play of the cloak-sharing.

Walking here from the Rhine promenade or nearby art museum is simple, and the flat stone paving makes the square easy to cross on foot. Go on a weekday morning if you prefer fewer people, since the space is often busiest during festivals and holiday gatherings.

Though it no longer holds daily markets, the square keeps a quiet link to its trading past through short-lived seasonal stalls. Many visitors miss that the sides of the plaza are not quite equal, giving it a slightly irregular shape that changes how the surrounding buildings appear from each corner.