Place du Marché aux Cochons de Lait: Suckling Pigs Market Square

You’ve reached the suckling pig market square. Such a big name for such a small square. No subtleties here, they simply sold suckling pigs, and later pork in general. Take a look at the beautiful half-timbered house at no. 1. It has 6 floors and it’s listed as a historical monument. See the weather vane shaped like a clog at the very top? The former owner was a wealthy clog maker. History has it that Emperor Sigismund, during his official visit to the city in 1414, was invited for a stroll by the noblewomen of Strasbourg. The story goes that he got out of bed so quickly that he didn’t even bother to put his shoes on, and walked barefoot through the streets. The women then bought him clogs from the nearby shop. Presumably, the clog maker went on to fame and fortune, and either he or his descendants built this beautiful mansion with the clog-shaped weathervane to always remember their good fortune!