Market Place and City Hall
City Hall
The Market place with City Hall and Neptune's Fountain, along with the Neckar waterfront, is one of the favorite photographic subjects. The visually dominating City Hall was built with three stories in 1435, in 1508 heightened by a fourth level, and in 1511 decorated with an artfully made astronomical clock by Johannes Stöffler. The clock, which still functions, shows the course of the stars and the phases of the moon.
The main facade, with its picturesque appearance, was completed for the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the university in 1877. On the first floor you will find the Main Conference Hall in Alemanic timber framing construction; on the second floor is the Old Reception Hall (Öhrn) with interesting grisailles, the so-called "Pictures of Justice" dating back to the 16th century.
Neptune's fountain
The Neptune's fountain gives a certain touch to the marketplace and dates back to the beginning of the 17th century. It is the work of the master builder Heinrich Schickhard who was inspired by a Bolognese archetype.
Isolde Kurz
The poet Isolde Kurz (1853 – 1944) spent part of her youth in the house "Cafe Ranitzkys" at the marketplace. Centuries before, from 1522 to 1530, Johannes Stöffler lived there and could always have an eye on his work, the astronomical clock.