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Grand-Place

File:Grand-Place,_Brussels_-_panorama,_June_2018.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Grand-Place

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Also known as Grote Markt, Nedermerckt, Grand Place Brussels

The ' (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or ' (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger edifices; the city's Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic ''King's House or Bread House'' building, containing the Brussels City Museum. The square measures and is entirely paved.

AI overview

The Grand-Place is the central square of Brussels, Belgium, surrounded by ornate Baroque buildings including guild halls, a Flamboyant Town Hall, and a neo-Gothic structure housing the city museum. It is one of Europe's most impressive squares, entirely paved and notable for the architectural grandeur of the historic buildings that frame it.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Street.image
Grand-Place, Brussels - panorama, June 2018.jpg
Street.image_size
250px
Street.caption
The /, with Brussels' Town Hall on the left
Street.postal_code
1000
Street.location
City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Street.map_type
Belgium Brussels#Belgium
Street.map_caption
Location within Brussels
Street.quarter
Central Quarter
Street.inauguration_label
Denomination
UNESCO World Heritage Site.child
yes
UNESCO World Heritage Site.ID
857
UNESCO World Heritage Site.year
1998
UNESCO World Heritage Site.criteria
Cultural: ii, iv

via Wikipedia infobox

~28 min read

Encyclopedic overview

24 sections
Contents
  • Naming
  • History
  • Early history
  • Rise in importance
  • Destruction and rebuilding
  • 20th and 21st centuries
  • Buildings around the square
  • Town Hall
  • King's House
  • Houses of the Grand-Place
  • Events
  • Flower carpet
  • Ommegang of Brussels
  • Christmas tree
  • In popular culture
  • Books
  • Films
  • Gallery
  • See also
  • References
  • Footnotes
  • Citations
  • Bibliography
  • External links

The ' (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or ' (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger edifices; the city's Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic ''King's House or Bread House'' building, containing the Brussels City Museum. The square measures and is entirely paved.

The Grand-Place's construction began in the 11th century and was largely complete by the 17th. In 1695, during the Nine Years' War, most of the square was destroyed during the bombardment of Brussels by French troops. Only the Town Hall's façade and tower, which served as a target for the artillery, as well as some stone walls, resisted the incendiary balls. The houses that surrounded the Grand-Place were rebuilt during subsequent years, giving the square its current appearance, though they were frequently modified in the following centuries. From the mid-19th century, the square's heritage value was rediscovered, and it was thoroughly renovated.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Grand-Place” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (30)

On the map

3 mapped locations