A bustling grain market in the Middle Ages, the Kornmarkt square was later home to a hospital run by Catholics in the 16th century.
The layout of the hospital’s chapel can still be identified by the paving in the square. In the 17th century, a statue known as Madonna at the Grain Market was erected as part of a Jesuit campaign designed to promote Catholicism.
Today, the Madonna is regarded as a fine work of art that provides the perfect centerpiece to this pleasant town square. Visitors gather here to eat at open-air cafés and enjoy views of the Heidelberg Castle on the slopes above the Kornmarkt.
