Market square

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For specific places, see Market Square (disambiguation).

Market Square in Bielsko-Biała, Poland

Market Square in Dortmund, Westphalia, Germany

Main Market Square, Kraków, Poland

The market square (or sometimes the market place) is a feature of many European and colonial towns. It is an open area where market stalls are traditionally set out for trading, commonly on one particular day of the week known as 'market day'.

A typical English market square consists of a square or rectangular area, or sometimes just a widening of the main street. It is usually situated in the centre of the town, surrounded by major buildings such as the parish church, town hall, important shops and hotels, and the post office, together with smaller shops and business premises. There is sometimes a permanent covered market building, and the entire area is a traditional meeting place for local people as well as a centre for trade.

The largest Market Square in Europe is the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland.^{[citation needed]} Incidentally, the longest such square is also located in Poland, in the town of Pułtusk.^{[citation needed]}