This early photo shows the northwestern corner of the Austriaplatz (P. Ghica Voda, Soborna pl.) Is the highest elevation in downtown Chernivtsi (225 m) and one of the oldest marketplaces in town where also firewood was traded. Therefor it used to be called Holzplatz. Later is was named Criminalplatz, after the Landesgericht (regional criminal court) with the prison to be seen in the background of the photo. It was built in 1819 and is the oldest administrative building still serving its original function. Only in 1875 the square got the name Austriaplatz, commemorating 100 years of Austrian rule over the Bukowina. At this occasion the monument of the “Austria” was erected in the middle of the square. The photo shows small private homes of the first generation of buildings on the square which have all been replaced by taller appartment buildings. Helmut Kusdat
