The Cathedral Square

Historic background

Historians had long claimed that the Brixen basin had been uninhabited marshland during the Iron and Bronze Age. In 1996, an archaeological find in Cathedral Square however uncovered parts of an Ice Age house wall dating from 500 to 300 BC. Further excavations have since thrown new light on what is known about early settlement in the Brixen area. Cathedral Square, at the very heart of the quarter encompassing the Cathedral itself, Saint Michael parish church, Liebfrauen church, the cloistered courtyard, Saint John’s church and the town hall has been the historic, spiritual and socio-cultural centre of the diocesan town since the 11th century. It also became notorious because of bloody historic events: leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1525 were publicly beheaded in the square, an Anabaptist was burnt at the stake and three Tyrolean freedom fighters were executed in 1809. During WWI the square served as a parade ground for the Imperial Troops. The Fascist Era, when flowerbeds and palm trees were planted to create the atmosphere of an Italian piazza, also saw the building of a street around Cathedral Square. Traffic was only banned from the heart of the city as late as 1972.

Cathedral Square today

The most recent transformation of Cathedral Square was carried out between 1997 and 1998, when the green area to the north and the water fountain in the south were added. The fountain by the local artist Martin Rainer symbolises man’s journey through life: the hand of God facing the Cathedral directs the child towards the world; it grows older and reaches the prime of life before descending back into the hand of God in old age.

Interesting detail

The square was originally called “Am Hofe” (At Court) because bishops used to hold court in the square before moving to the Hofburg. The old name was in use until the 18th century, when it was renamed “Ochsenplatz” because of the cattle market which regularly took place. When the farmers’ markets moved to the Trattengasse and Kachlerau Street, the name Domplatz (Cathedral Square) finally came to be established.