The central feature of the Old Town of Dortmund is the Alter Markt, the Old Market, a large pedestrian-friendly area that can trace its roots back to the 12th century when town merchants and tradesmen would display their wares here.
It remains a popular shopping area to this day, and is home to numerous shops, boutiques, and galleries, as well as cafés and restaurants.
Historical highlights of the square are its old fountain, added in 1901 as a drinking trough for animals, and the Old Civic Hall, or Altes Stadthaus, a fine Neo-Renaissance structure built in 1899.
