The market square with pyramid
The plan for the market square with the town church and town hall was developed by the famous Karlsruhe master builder Friedrich Weinbrenner and approved by Margrave Karl Friedrich in 1801. It was also Weinbrenner who planned the important buildings that shape the square, such as the town church and town hall. The result was an ensemble that is regarded worldwide as a prime example of classicist architecture and has retained this character to this day.
The most striking building on the market square is the pyramid. It is a monument to the town's founder Margrave Karl-Wilhelm and protects his grave. It was initially made of wood, then erected in stone in 1825, on the exact spot where the tomb of the original Concordia Church (demolished in 1807) was located. The preserved crypt dates back to the 18th century.
The following anecdote is told about the margrave's tomb: Grand Duke Friedrich and Court Councillor Hemleben and his entourage visited the tomb at midnight on July 13, 1889. As soon as the gentlemen were outside again, the court councillor missed his umbrella. But the crypt was not visited again until 1998. No matter how hard they searched, the umbrella was unfortunately nowhere to be found ...
Town hall
As early as 1804, the town fathers decided to build a new town hall on the southern part of the market square opposite the Protestant town church. Work on the northern side wing began in 1805 according to plans by Friedrich Weinbrenner. However, the plans for the main building had to be changed several times. One of the points of contention was the "Hochwachtsturm" tower, which Weinbrenner did not want to do without as a counterpart to the tower of the Protestant town church. Today it is crowned by a Mercury, a symbol of trade and change. It was not until 1821 that the foundation stone for the new town hall was ceremoniously laid, and the work was completed in 1825. It was badly damaged in the Second World War, but was rebuilt by 1955. The center of the building features a columned loggia and, like the side sections, protrudes slightly with the gable front.
The market fountain designed in 1822 with an octagonal water basin and the statue of Grand Duke Ludwig stands between the town hall and the town church. The figure, created by Aloys Raufer in 1833, was reconstructed by Fritz Moser in the early 1950s.
Tip
The cafés and restaurants around the square invite you to take a break and watch the hustle and bustle. You can find out more about the market square and its shopping opportunities here.
