Description
The market square was built directly on the old trade route "through the Kurzen Hessen" from Frankfurt to central Germany and is affectionately known as the "Gut Stubb". The market square was already considered a civic center back then and still serves as a meeting place for young and old today. The town hall, built by bailiff Hermann Rüdiger from Hersfeld, is an impressive and one of the most beautiful buildings on the market square. The magnificent Renaissance building from 1586/87 has been owned by the town since 1593. The hall on the first floor served as a market and trading hall; an iron ell next to the entrance door is a reminder of this. The stone portal with its sculptures was probably designed by the landgrave's master builder Eberth Baldewein from Marburg. The faithfully restored Renaissance paintings around the windows and the stone sculpture of a man in Spanish costume at the corner of the building are also particularly noteworthy. In front of the town hall stands the circular market fountain, a 36-metre deep well. Groundwater was drawn here until around 1500. In 1820, the well was finally filled in and fell into oblivion until it was rediscovered in 1980 during construction work for the Hessentag. One of the particularly beautiful baroque buildings is the post office dating from 1668. The high hall is still a reminder of its original function. The former stables and barns at the rear of the building have now been have now been converted into residential and commercial buildings.
