• Info & Description

    Time: Daily Daily all day
    Cost: Free
    Brussels:

    Bursting with Gothic façades, the Grand'Place is one of Europe's largest city squares. Don't miss the gloriously asymmetric Town Hall and adorned guild houses. This is the historic heart of Brussels, with free concerts, cafés and a regular flower market.



    The Town Hall is the only complete surviving building on the square that is actually medieval. It was built in two phases in the early and mid-15th century, its 100-metre spire topped with a gold statue of St Michael. In 1695 the troops of the famously warmongering French King Louis XIV destroyed large parts of the rest of the Grand'Place and the other structures on the square all had to be rebuilt.

    The chequered history of the grand Maison du Roi (King's House) that stands opposite the Town Hall makes it of comparable significance. It once belonged to the Duke of Brabant, who was later created the King of Spain -hence the title. After the French revolution it was claimed as the "People's Palace" and later completely rebuilt at the end of the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style one sees today. It now houses the Brussels Museum, which includes a display on the outfits of the Manneken-Pis.

    Many of the other buildings round the Grand'Place have played their own part in history, belonging to noblemen, guilds or significant private citizens. Le Cygne (The Swan) is where Marx and Engels are reputed to have written The Communist Manifesto. L'Arbre d'Or (The Golden Tree) was home to the Brewer's guild and now houses the fascinating Brewer's Museum. The great novelist Victor Hugo lived in Le Pigeon.

    Throughout the year the Grand'Place is a theatre for markets, festivals and colourful events. For a truly awe-inspiring sight, get there for the medieval splendour of the Ommegang Pageant every July.

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