Marktplatz Schwäbisch Gmünd

The largest square in the old town of Schwäbisch Gmünd runs north to south between the Heilig-Geist-Spital and the town hall, an hourglass of half-timbered, baroque and rococo houses that formed the secular counterpart to the Münsterplatz and its minster. The weekly markets moved to the other squares long ago; what is left is a pedestrian space of street cafés which the town fills for the Christmas and Kirchweih fairs, for the horse market, and in summer for open-air concerts — a touring tenor gala was staged here in August 2002.