Today's Dominikanerplatz (Dominican Square) is the site of the old Dominican monastery, founded in 1227 and equipped with the already existing Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church). The monastery occupied the space between Junkergasse and Lawendelgasse on one side, and the church and the Right City wall on the other. The wall ran from the "Kiek in die Kök" (Peek into the Kitchen) tower across the square toward a second wall tower called the "Blumentopf" (Flowerpot), whose location is still marked today by a circular cobblestone pattern in front of the market hall. The tower in front of the monastery allowed one to look into the monastery kitchen and was therefore called "Kiek in die Kök." Over time this tower fell into increasing disrepair, and shrubs and small trees overgrew it so much that it was renamed "Blumentopf." However, the tradition of peeking into the monks' pots caused the name "Kiek in die Kök" to be transferred to the neighboring tower.

During the siege of 1813, the monastery buildings, which had been converted into a military hospital, burned down -- only the church survived. The desolate square then served for a long time as a drill ground. In 1881 it was leveled, and in 1894/96 the market hall was built on it.

History