New Braunfels: Main Plaza

Octagonal open platform with a red roof and stone foundation in a park area next to a street

Main Plaza (New Braunfels Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Bird’s eye drawing of New Braunfels in 1881 showing named streets, buildings, the railroad depot, a river and hills in the background

Bird’s-eye view of New Braunfels in 1881.

Round gazebo or bandstand in a park in front of a stone courthouse

Main Plaza with bandstand and Comal County Courthouse.

Large crowd of people gathered in an open space around a large ornate gateway entrance

Plaza during the city’s 50th anniversary celebration, May 1895. (UTSA Special Collections Library)

Parade float with a group of young women dressed in white robes and one with a crown and torch on a tall platform, pulled by four horses

Parade float during the city’s 50th anniversary celebration, May 1895. (UTSA Special Collections Library)

Couple in traditional German clothing – man in lederhosen and woman in full skirt, corset and apron – dancing under a tent

Dancing the night away at Wurstfest. (Wurstfest Association of New Braunfels)

Man on stage wearing lederhosen and playing the accordion for a group of spectators

Myron Floren playing accordion for fans at Wurstfest, ca. 1970s (Wurstfest Association of New Braunfels)

Woman holding four decorative steins

What’s a celebration without beer? (Wurstfest Association of New Braunfels)

New Braunfels’ founders took a decidedly European approach to laying out their new settlement. Unlike many Texas towns, the courthouse faces the marktplatz rather than standing in the middle – the open plaza with a bandstand gazebo celebrates the German-Texan spirit of independence. Twice Comal County commissioners tried to move the courthouse to the platz, and twice the city refused. Similarly, none of the town’s churches are located on the plaza as they often are in other towns. Since it was erected in 1905, the bandstand has played host to numerous performances in a community for whom music has always been vital. 

And German-Texan heritage is almost always on display in downtown New Braunfels through its regular festivals: Kindermasken Parade in April; Saengerfest in May; Wurstfest in November; and Wassailfest in December.

Main Plaza

  • Seguin and San Antonio Sts., New Braunfels, TX
  • 800-572-2626
  • Visit Website
  • Several structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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