The Hintere Platz, or rear square, is the oldest name for what is known today as the Rossmarkt, or horse market. Many of the houses on the Main Square had their stables and dung heaps here in earlier times. The Hintere Platz probably stank to high heaven – depending on the weather. The Stewardship of Burghausen was the administrative authority and undertook regular checks of the market. The steward frequently complained about the standards of hygiene and gradually the offending material was removed.

Originally the square was closed off at both ends. A little “Schläftürl” or “Schlupftürl” (meaning door or hatch) allowed people to pass along the path from the Rossmarkt to the Vormarkt to the west. This passage was closed at night.

So the Schärding Gate was the only way in and out of the square until the 19th century.

From the 16th century, the square was known as Rossmarkt, because of the horse markets that used to be held here. Horses are no longer traded on the Rossmarkt today. There is an annual horse fair and a parade, but this takes place on the Main Square.