Altmarkt, Dresden

The Altmarkt is the oldest square in Dresden. The marketplace, which was laid out according to plan with the founding of the city, was first mentioned in 1370 as circulus. In later documents it was called margt in 1400, ring in 1410 and forum in 1452. Directly adjacent to it is the Kreuzkirche, for centuries the most important sacral building in the city. After a new market was created around 1550 through the first expansion of the city, the Neumarkt at the Frauenkirche, the large, central square was called the Alte Markt or Altmarkt for short. Together with the Neumarkt, it is today one of the most important squares in the city. The Altmarkt is known nationwide primarily as the venue for the annual Striezelmarkt, one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world, which has been held since 1434.

During the Second World War, most of the historic buildings on the Altmarkt were destroyed. Only the Kreuzkirche was reconstructed. The reconstruction of the west and east sides as well as the adjacent quarters was carried out in the 1950s according to the 16 principles of urban development in an architectural style that "continues the cultural heritage" and is based on the baroque cityscape of Dresden. Contrary to these plans, a modernist solitary building, the Palace of Culture, was erected on the north side. After the end of the GDR, the south side of the square was closed from 1990 with two buildings loosely adapted in style to the neighboring buildings. The complete pavement and street furniture of the Old Market Square were redesigned until 2009.