Anyone standing in front of Stuttgart's Markthalle has no idea what awaits them inside. From the outside, the façade with its arcades, towers and oriels in Art Nouveau style looks rather closed. However, anyone who enters the market hall can expect a light-flooded sales area that does not have any supporting pillars. The glass roof is supported by a sophisticated construction of reinforced concrete girders. From the gallery, one has a wonderful view of the market hustle and bustle.
But this historic flair almost disappeared. In the early 1970s, the future of the building was up for debate. It was judged to be economically unviable and was therefore to make way for a new building. With only one majority vote, the municipal council decided in 1971 to preserve it. A nail-biter that did not have to be repeated, because Stuttgart's market hall has been a listed building since 1972. At the same time, the special work of architect Martin Elsaesser was recognized.
Popular meeting place for connoisseurs and nostalgics
The market hall is a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike when it comes to culinary delights: there are all sorts of fruits and vegetables, sausages and meats, spices, flowers and much more. A visit is a real delight for the senses.
The market hall offers another special feature: under its roof are the oldest preserved streetcar tracks in the city. For decades, merchants' goods were delivered to the market hall via special freight trains. Around 20 meters of these old tracks are still in place here.
