church square
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church square
The public square located directly in front of a church or around it. It is often the central place of a village or district.
Der Wochenmarkt findet jeden Samstag auf dem Kirchplatz statt.
The weekly market takes place every Saturday on the church square.
“Kirchplatz” is made up of “Kirche” (church) and “Platz” (square/place). So it is literally the square by the church. The article “der” is taken from the head noun “der Platz” (the square/place).
Die alte Linde auf dem Kirchplatz ist über 200 Jahre alt.
The old lime tree on the church square is over 200 years old.
Pay attention to the case after the preposition “auf”: “auf dem Kirchplatz” (on the church square; dative) describes a location, while “auf den Kirchplatz” (onto/to the church square; accusative) indicates a direction.
Die Kinder spielen auf dem Kirchplatz.
The children are playing on the church square.
Public events often take place on a church square. Typical verbs are “stattfinden” (to take place) for markets and festivals, or “sich treffen” (to meet up).
Jedes Jahr findet hier ein Weihnachtsmarkt statt.
Every year a Christmas market takes place here.
churchyard
Kirchhof and Kirchplatz both refer to places directly beside a church. A Kirchhof is an enclosed area around the church and has traditionally often been used as a cemetery, while a Kirchplatz is a public square where people gather or pass through. Kirchplatz is the appropriate term for the public area in front of the church.
Auf dem Kirchplatz vor der Kirche treffen sich die Bewohner jeden Samstag zum Markt.
Every Saturday, the residents meet at the church square in front of the church for the market.
Auf dem alten Kirchhof stehen viele Grabsteine zwischen der Mauer und der Kirche.
There are many gravestones in the old churchyard between the wall and the church.
