The Marienplatz (Maria Square) is the central square of Munich since its founding in the 12th century. The New City Hall in this panorama as well as the Old City Hall (east side) are situated on the square. On the north side of the Marienplatz we can also see, besides the New City Hall, the department store Ludwig Beck to the right and the Thomass-Eck building, which served as the main guardroom of the city, on the left edge.
The Marienplatz is at the historic junction of the Salt Street (Salzstrasse) as the main East-West-Axis and the main North-South-Axis between Sendlinger Gate and the former Schwabinger Gate. Historically it was simply called Marktplatz (Marketsquare) or Schrannenplatz (for its function as corn market). In 1638 Kurfürst (Elector) Maximilian I. errected the Mariensäule (Maria Column) on the square, visible in the centre of the panorama with a golden statue atop. This north side of the square was shaped by the Landschaftshäuser of Munich until the 19th century. These were removed for the New City Hall. Unfortunately most other historical buildings were destroyed in WWII as well.
