Marienplatz is the heart of Ravensburg's old town, an elongated square lined with historic buildings that have changed relatively little since the medieval trading days when the Great Ravensburg Trading Society made this one of the most commercially active towns in southern Germany. The Society dealt in linen, fustian, and spices across Europe from around 1380 until it liquidated in 1530, and the prosperous streetscape it helped create is still largely intact.
The square is pedestrianised and busy with locals throughout the day. Sit at one of the cafe tables and you have a good view of the Blaserturm, the clock tower at the southern end, and the Waaghaus (weighing house) that once served the medieval market. The Rutenfest, Ravensburg's main annual festival, fills the square in summer with processions and festivities dating back to the 16th century.