Bremen's market square is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe. Its unique ensemble of historical buildings consists of the town hall dating from 1405, St. Peter's Cathedral, begun in 1042, the "Schütting", Bremen's medieval chamber of commerce built in 1537, the merchants' houses that date back to the Weser Renaissance era around 1600 and the statue of Roland, symbol of the city's freedom, erected in 1404 and now, together with the Town Hall, a UNESCO world heritage site.