Rathausmarkt

The Rathausmarkt was built after the Great Fire of Hamburg in 1842, which destroyed also the old city hall near the bridge of Trostbrücke and the buildings near the new city hall, with the exception of the building of Hamburg Stock Exchange. Shortly before the fire, the old St. John's monastery and also the old church of St. John, located on the southern end of the square, which were situated in the area of today's Rathausmarkt, had been demolished. The square was created pursuing a plan and designed after the model of Piazza San Marco in Venice, which is also opening to the waterfront. Until the 1970s the square was a transport hub for the Trams in Hamburg. After tram operation had ceased in 1978, the square was fully renovated and surfaced with red granite until 1982 under the aegis of mayor Hans-Ulrich Klose, wherefore it was jokingly dubbed Red Square. ==Monuments==

The former monument for William I, which had been erected on the square in 1903, was removed in 1930. The remaining parts can be found at Holstenwall/Sievekingplatz today. The two large flagpoles are remnants of this ensemble. Also today, the Heinrich Heine Monument, made by Waldemar Otto, can be found on the square. Hannes Wader wrote a song about in 1989. ==References==