Today’s Engelplatz („Angel’s Square“) was used for various purposes throughout the centuries:
Before Miltenberg was extended for the second time in the late 14th century, today’s Engelplatz belonged to Bürgstadt. After this extension the inhabitants of the eastern part Miltenberg still fell under the jurisdiction of the hundredman of Bürgstadt – probably as a kind of compensation for the loss of the area.
Court trials were relatively rare, so most of the time this dirt square was used by the carpenters, putting together the framework for the half-timbered houses, as this work required more space than the narrow streets and alleys in town offered. In addition the large free space could be used in times of need. The inhabitants of the neighbouring town Kleinheubach, for example, had the right to retreat to the safety of the city walls of Miltenberg in times of war. In such cases they would take their belongings and their livestock with them, which required space.
It is remarkable, that this space was hardly ever used for markets or fairs, which took place in the narrow Hauptstraße or on the market square instead.
Here the inn zum Engel (The Angel) was established, for which the square has since been named. The inn zum Engel soon became very renowned and hosted celebrities like emperor Francis I of Austria and Prince Metternich. In 837 the square was paved, among others for the comfort of the patrons of the inn.
In 1901 a monument was raised in honour of the soldiers who had fought against France in 1870/71. This monument was the setting for a number of patriotic events, like one commemorating the Battle of Leipzig. The bronze monument was melted down during World War II, the stone lions which had been part of the monument were moved to the Saxons’ Grave in the Mainzer Straße in the 1950s.
The farmers’ market was moved to this place in 1934.
