Marktplatz

The Marktplatz in Heidelberg centers on a tall, sandstone fountain topped by a statue of Hercules. This figure holds a gilded club and stands above a basin that has served as the city’s water supply since seventeen oh six. While the surrounding facades appear uniform in their baroque style, they hide a violent history. In sixteen ninety-three, French troops burned the city to the ground, leaving almost nothing standing. Residents rebuilt this square from the ashes, crafting the stone core of the town.