Marienplatz

During the Middle Ages, markets and tournaments were held in the Marienplatz, which was originally called Markth ("market"), Schranne ("grain market") and later Schrannenplatz ("grain market square"). After the grain market was moved into the modern glass-and-iron Schranne near "Blumenstrasse" in 1853, the square received its new name, starting 9 October 1854.

File:Der Marckt zu München 1656 (Marienplatz) - Matthäus Merian d.J.jpg|View of the New Town Hall and Frauenkirche looking westward, 1656

File:München Schrannenplatz Soeltl 1838.jpg|View of the square towards the west from an 1838 print

File:Anton Doll Der Marienplatz in München 1853.jpg|View of the square towards the east from an 1853 painting

File:Neues Rathaus in München - Panorama.jpg]]

Marienplatz was named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column erected in its centre in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation. Today the Marienplatz is dominated by the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) on the north side, and the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus, a reconstructed Gothic council hall with a ballroom and tower) on the east side.

The Glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall was inspired by the tournaments that were held in the square during the Middle Ages, and draws millions of tourists a year. Furthermore, the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz is a crowded area with numerous shops and restaurants.

{{Main|Mariensäule}}

File:Marienstatue - panoramio (1).jpg]]

The Mariensäule is a Marian column located on the Marienplatz in Munich, Germany. Mary is revered here as Patrona Bavariae (Latin: Protector of Bavaria).

It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War, following a respective vow by Duke Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria if the ducal residential cities of Munich and Landshut were spared from war destruction. The column is topped by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven, created in 1590. The figure was originally located in the Frauenkirche. Mariensäule in Munich was the first column of this type built north of the Alps and inspired the construction of other Marian columns in this part of Europe.For more and detailed pictures of the column see the respective German-language article on wikipedia.de.

At each corner of the column's pedestal is a statue of a putto, created by Ferdinand Murmann. The four putti are each depicted fighting a different beast, symbolizing the city's overcoming of adversities: war represented by the lion, pestilence by the cockatrice, hunger or famine by the dragon and heresy by the serpent.

Three weeks before Christmas the Christkindlmarkt opens at Marienplatz and other squares in the city, selling Christmas goods and food and drink.

File:München - Marienplatz (Luftbild).jpg

The square is served by the Munich Marienplatz station, offering both U-Bahn and S-Bahn access.

A new station, Marienhof, will be built to the north of the square, as part of the second S-Bahn tunnel project (Zweite Stammstrecke). The new station will also connect to the existing lines.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldconstructiontoday.com/news/contract-awarded-for-new-munich-rail-station/|title=Contract awarded for new Munich rail station|publisher=World Construction Today|access-date=2019-01-28}}

File:Mariensaeule oberer Teil.jpg|Marian column

File:Wolf Hirtreiter Kräutlmarkbrunnen 1972.jpg|Krautlmarkt fountain

File:Fischbrunnen Muenchen Detail-1.jpg|Fish fountain

File:München - Altes Rathaus - Julia 003.jpg|Charming Julia

File:Marienplatz 20, München - Architekt Curt O. Schaller - Laden Swarovski.JPG|Swarovski store at Marienplatz

• Fischbrunnen

{{commons Category|Marienplatz (München)}}

• [http://www.marienplatz.de Official site] – (in German)
• [http://www.panorama-cities.net/munich/town_hall.html Marienplatz 360° Panorama]

{{Visitor attractions in Munich}}

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Category:Squares in Munich

Category:Tourist attractions in Munich