Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Markthalle

With more than 500.000 inhabitants Hannover is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Hannover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the River Leine. It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen. It became a comparatively large town in the 13th century, receiving town privileges in 1241, owing to its position at natural crossroads It was connected to the Hanseatic city of Bremen by the Leine and was situated north-west of the Harz mountains so that east-west traffic passed through it. Between 1714 and 1837 three kings of Great Britain were concurrently also Electoral Princes of Hanover. As an important railway and road junction and production centre, Hannover was a major target for strategic bombing during WW II. More than 90% of the city centre was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids. So today Hannover lacks it´s medieval heart. Originally, agricultural products in Hanover were brought into the city by local farmers and sold at public markets. At the end of the 19th century, increased hygiene standards led to calls for the regulation of open markets. The population of Hanover, which was elevated to city status in 1875 with over 100,000 inhabitants, grew, and so the city began building a market hall. The first market hall was an iron and glass structure with brick side walls. It was 84 meters long, 48 meters wide, and about 20 meters high. When it opened in 1892, the Hanover Market Hall was the largest steel and glass building in the German Empire. The hall was destroyed during World War II. The cellars with the cold storage facilities survived. After the war, market operations continued in the destroyed hall with temporary stalls and booths. A new market hall was built in 1954 on the site of the destroyed market hall. It was a purely functional building. As in many market halls nowadays there are also many stalls offering hot meals.

Colmar was first mentioned by Charlemagne in his chronicle of the Saxon Wars. Emperor Charles the Fat held a Diet here in 884. In 1226, Emperor Frederick II granted Colmar the status of a free imperial city. In 1575, the city adopted the Protestant Reformation. During the Thirty Years' War, it was conquered by the Swedish army in 1632, which held it for two years. The city is known for its old town, its numerous sights and its museums, including the Unterlinden Museum. Goods can be transported to the market hall via the small canal. The hall was built on a metal frame, supported by cast iron pillars, between 1863 and 1865.

The history of Wroclaw dates back more than a thousand years. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945 as part of the result of extensive border changes and expulsions after WWII. In 990 Mieszko I of Poland conquered Silesia and Wrocław. The town became a commercial center. In the 12th century Polish, Bohemian, Jewish, Walloon, and German communities existed here. Wroclaw was devastated in 1241 during the first Mongol invasion of Poland. In the 13th century due to migration from Saxony and Bavaria, Wroclaw got germanised. The population adopted the German language and culture and the name changed to Breslau. Between 1342 and 1344 two fires destroyed large parts of the city, which was a part of the Bohemian Kingdom at that time. Charles IV`s , successors Wenceslaus and Sigismund became involved in a long-lasting feud with the city and its magistrate, culminating in the revolt in 1418 when local craftsmen killed seven councilors. After the city had defeated the Bohemian Hussites the city was besieged by a combined Polish-Czech force in 1474, however, a ceasefire was signed, according to which the city remained under Hungarian rule. The Reformation reached Breslau already in 1518, and in 1523 the town council unanimously appointed a new pastor and thus introduced the Reformation in Breslau. In 1526, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria inherited Bohemia, Silesia, and the city of Breslau. In 1609 German emperor Rudolf II granted the free exercise of church services to all Bohemian and Silesian Protestants. In the following Thirty Years' War, the city suffered badly. It was occupied by Saxon and Swedish troops and lost 18,000 of its 40,000 residents to the plague. The Counter-Reformation had started with Rudolf II who encouraged Catholic orders to settle in Breslau. The dominance of the German population under the Habsburg rule in the city became more visible, while the Polish population diminished in numbers. After Frederick the Great besieged the city for a year, it surrendered in 1741. In 1742, Queen Maria Theresa handed over Silesia to the Prussian king. - Architects Richard Plüddemann and Heinrich Küster were responsible for the planning and designs of the Hala Targowa (Market Hall). The construction of the reinforced concrete structure started in 1906 after the demolition of old buildings on the site began. The use of the then-innovative application of reinforced concrete trusses was unique in Europe at the time. In 1908, the market hall was opened and developed into one of the most popular shopping facilities in the city and still is today. The market hall is seen here from the tower of the cathedral.

Gdańsk is mentioned the Vita of Saint Adalbert of Prague who baptised the inhabitants of "urbs Gyddannyzc" in 997. Later the site was a duchy of Poland. In 1224/25, merchants from Lübeck were invited but already in 1238 they were forced to leave by Pomeralian Duke Swantopolk II during a war between him and the Teutonic Knights. Migration of merchants to the town resumed in 1257. Significant German influence did not reappear until the 14th century, after the takeover of the city by the Teutonic Knights. In 1263 Swantopolk II granted city rights ("Lübsches Stadtrecht") to the emerging market settlement. In a document of 1271 the Duke Mestwin II addressed the Lübeck merchants settled in the city as his loyal citizens from Germany. In 1300, the town had an estimated population of 2,000. While the town was not a really important trade centre at that time, it had relevance in the trade with Eastern Europe. Low on funds, the Pomeranian Samborides lent the settlement to Brandenburg, although they planned to give it to Poland. Poland threatened to intervene, and the Brandenburgians left the town. Subsequently, the city was taken by Danish princes in 1301. The Teutonic Knights were hired by Polish nobles to drive out the Danes. In 1308, the town was taken by the Teutonic Knights. Subsequently, the Knights took over control of the town. Primary sources record a large massacre carried out by the Knights against the local population. The events were used by the Polish crown to condemn the Teutonic Knights in a subsequent papal lawsuit. In 1340, the Teutonic Knights constructed a large fortress. In 1358, Danzig joined the Hanseatic League. After a series of Polish-Teutonic Wars, the Order had to acknowledge that it would hold Pomerelia as a fief from the Polish Crown. The city thrived as a result of increased exports via the Vistula River trading routes. While under the control of the Teutonic Order German migration increased. A new war broke out in 1409, culminating in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and the city came under the control of the Kingdom of Poland. Only a year later, with the Peace of Thorn, it returned to the Teutonic Order. In 1440, the city participated in the foundation of the "Prussian Confederation", an organisation opposed to the rule of the Teutonic Knights. Upon the request of the organisation King Casimir IV of Poland reincorporated the territory to the Kingdom of Poland in 1454. This led to a war between Poland and the Teutonic Order. The local mayor pledged allegiance to the King during the incorporation in March 1454 in Kraków. In 1457 the city gained its rights as an autonomous city. Casimir IV of Poland granted the town the Great Privilege. With this, the town was granted full autonomy and protection by the King of Poland. The privilege removed tariffs and taxes on trade within Poland, Lithuania and Ruthenia. Gaining privileged access to Polish markets, the seaport prospered while simultaneously trading with the other Hanseatic cities. Being the largest and one of the most influential cities of Poland, it enjoyed voting rights during the royal election period in Poland. In the 1575 election of a king to the Polish throne, Danzig supported Maximilian II in his struggle against Stephen Báthory. Stephen became monarch but the city shut its gates against him. After the 6 months siege of Danzig in 1577 the city's army was defeated. Since Stephen's armies were unable to take the city by force, a compromise was reached: Stephen confirmed the city's special status and the privileges granted by earlier Polish kings. The city recognised him as ruler of Poland and paid the enormous sum of 200,000 guldens in gold as payoff. Beside a majority of German-speakers, the city was home to a large number of Polish-speaking Poles, Jewish Poles, Latvians, Flemings, Dutch and Scots. During the Reformation, most German-speaking inhabitants adopted Lutheranism. The "Battle of Westerplatte" was the first battle of the German invasion of Poland, marking the start of WW II in Europe. The historic city centre of Gdansk was 90% destroyed at the end of WWII. It was reconstructed by Poles at great expense and today attracts tourists. The Hala Targowa (market hall), built in 1895 in neo-Gothic style.

Chaumont (pop. ~ 22.000) is located in the centre of the Departenement Haute Marne. Peasants and artisans settled around an early existing fortified motte and so started the development of Chaumont, owned since the 12th century by the Counts of Champagne. - Les Halles - a nice 19th-century building right in town.

Cordes-sur-Ciel lies high above the banks of the Cérou river. So in 1993, when tourism got more important. So in 1993, it got the surname "sur-Ciel". The village was founded as a bastide in 1222 by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, a strong opponent of the infamous Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade. It was built, to protect the scattered population of the area from conflict. By the 1229 Treaty of Paris, Raymond conceded defeat to Louis IX of France. When in 1241, Jeanne, the Countess of Toulouse, married the brother of Louis IX Cordes became a part of France in 1271 without having been militarily conquered. Today Cordes-sur-Ciel is a pretty tourist spot. The quaint village is well worth a stop. Under the roof of the medieval market hall, which in summer serves as a restaurant, is a well, that is about 100m deep.

Since 1898 housewives and housemen go shopping here for fresh "fruits et légumes". The market is open for business each Wednesday and Saturday. In between these days the hall is used as a covered parking lot.