Feel the history beneath your feet.
– Anonymous
You’re standing in the largest medieval square in Europe, host to one of the Continent’s biggest Christmas markets.
After Mongols destroyed the city in the 13th century, a new plaza covering 9½ acres was built at the intersection of ancient trade routes with a central market surrounded by elegant townhouses and medieval palaces. After the market burned in 1555, a new one was built in the Renaissance style. For centuries foreign envoys in regal processions passed through the square to join the Royal Route leading to a nearby castle, home to the country’s monarchy until 1611. Today, the road is traversed by horse-drawn carriages filled with wayfarers and diners heading to restaurants in the square.
At one end of the vast plaza stands a gothic, red-brick church where a bugler still plays the traditional 5-note call in each of the four directions at the top of every hour. Each time, the plaintive tune breaks off mid-stream to commemorate the trumpeter shot in the throat as he sounded the alarm of the Mongol attack.
Where are you now?
Be the first to name the city in the photos above and impress your friends!
The answer to our last Where are you now? quiz was Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, answered correctly by futuristic55ad. Congratulations!
Reid & Robie 