Market square

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For specific places, see Market Square (disambiguation).

The market square (or sometimes the market place) is a feature of many European towns. It is an open area where market stalls are traditionally set out for trading, commonly on one particular day of the week known as 'market day'.

A typical English market square consists of a square or rectangular area, or sometimes just a widening of the main street. It is always situated in the centre of the town, surrounded by major buildings such as the parish church, town hall, important shops and hotels, and the post office, together with smaller shops and business premises. There is sometimes a permanent covered market building, and the entire area is a traditional meeting place for local people as well as a centre for trade.

The largest Market Square in Europe is the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Incidentially, the longest such square is also located in Poland, in the town of Pułtusk.