St Martin’s Square (St.-Martins-Platz) is a historic public square located in the heart of the old town of Kaiserslautern, Germany. It is considered one of the most beautiful and charming squares in the city.
The triangular-shaped square dates back to the 17th century and was likely established in connection with the medieval granary and warehouse that once stood on the eastern side of the square (demolished in 1808). The square is bordered by Steinstraße and Klosterstraße to the east, Spittelstraße to the west, and continues into Marktstraße beyond Spittelstraße.
The eastern part of the square was known as the Kornmarkt (grain market), while the western part was called “Auf der Brücke” (on the bridge) due to the Scherbrücke bridge that crossed the Lauter river here. The square received its current name of St Martin’s Square during the city’s 700th anniversary celebration, coinciding with the completion of the old town’s renovation.
The centerpiece of St Martin’s Square is the Fontainebrunnen, a fountain created by Eduard Koelwel (1882-1966). It consists of a round sandstone basin with a cast-iron fountain column featuring swans as water spouts. Two additional fountain bowls sit above, topped by a putto whose drinking horn spouts water. Large chestnut trees provide shade in the square.
The buildings around the square are primarily two to three-story plastered structures dating from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Many formerly served as public buildings or inns and feature representative facades.
- The former Stadthaus (town hall) with its coat-of-arms adorned portal, now housing a music school (north side)
- St Martin’s Church, a Catholic parish church originally built in the early 14th century for a Franciscan monastery (south side)
- A residential and commercial building (south side)
- The former site of Hotel “Zum Donnersberg” where notable figures like Victor Hugo and King Ludwig I of Bavaria once stayed (north side)
St Martin’s Square (St.-Martins-Platz) was largely spared from damage during World War II, despite the city as a whole being heavily bombed.
- Over 60% of Kaiserslautern was bombed and destroyed by Allied aircraft during WWII, with the heaviest attacks occurring on January 7, August 11, and September 28, 1944.
- Of the 20,000 homes in Kaiserslautern, 11,000 were destroyed or damaged during the war.
- However, St Martin’s Square “came through the devastation of the Second World War largely unscathed”
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