It's been the city's main square since 1158, show here at night with the Christmas market stalls already closed. Can appreciiate the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) and the Old City Hall. In the Middle Ages, markets and tournaments were held in this city square. It used to be called Markth (market), Schranne (grain market) and later Schrannenplatz (grain market square). After said grain market was moved into the modern glass-and-iron Schranne near "Blumenstrasse" in 1853, the square received its new name, starting 9. October 1854. The Glockenspiel in the tower of the new city hall was inspired by these tournaments, and draws millions of tourists a year. Furthermore, the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz is a crowded area with numerous shops and restaurants.Today the Marienplatz is dominated by the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) on the north side, and the Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus, a reconstructed gothic) council hall with a ballroom and tower) on the east side.