Picturesque Town Hall Square has been the undisputed hub of Old Town for the last eight centuries.

Surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and, in summer, packed with café tables, it's a natural magnet for tourists.

Historically it served as a market and meeting place, and was the site of at least one execution (resulting from a dispute over a bad omelette). Find the round stone marked with a compass rose in the middle of the square. From this spot, with a little stretching and bending, you can see the tops all five of Old Town's spires.

Today, the square remains the social heart of the city, a venue for open-air concerts, handicraft fairs and medieval markets. Each winter it's home to the town's Christmas tree – a tradition that stretches back to 1441 – and a buzzing Christmas Market. In spring it hosts the Old Town Days festival, a modern version of a medieval carnival, where traditions from the Middle Ages are kept alive.

Notable buildings around the square include the Town Hall with its tower and the Town Hall Pharmacy.