Kornmarkt

Kornmarkt is a historic square in Germany, where granite paving, café terraces, water channels, and a broad cedar shape the scene. Children splash through the channels while adults gather around the terraces.

Planned in 1746, the square began as an organized grain market linking trade with civic life. Fifteen thousand granite slabs cover its paving. Its north-western side follows a subtle curve, while the west holds St George’s Fountain, rising more than eleven metres. Johannes Seiz created the rococo fountain for Elector Franz Georg von Schönborn, filling its stonework with dragon-slaying scenes and ornate reliefs.

The classicist casino on the southern side dates from 1825 and once hosted debates among the liberal elite, including Heinrich Marx. Wartime damage, demolished buildings, and postwar reconstruction reshaped the surrounding architecture, including the post office built over the former Königsburg mansion. The cedar remains a memorable witness to local protests, festivals, and renewal.