The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is Brussels main tourist attraction. This medieval square is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Europe and has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1998.
Home to many terrace cafes, the square is a great place to relax over a drink and people watch as you soak in the atmosphere. Many of the city's main cultural events take place here; the most famous are the annual Ommegang and the biennial flower carpet. You will also find shops in and around the square famed for their chocolates. The Grand Place is also home to the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles (City of Brussels Museum), which is housed in the Maison Du Roi.
The imposing gothic Town Hall (Hotel de Ville), built in the early 15th century is still used for civic purposes including marriages and is the official seat of the Mayor of Brussels. The building's courtyard is open to the public, but you can only visit the interior by going on one of the scheduled tours (In English - Tues & Wed 3.15pm - In summer also on Sundays 10.45am & 12.15am - price 3 euro). The 40 minute tour guides you around the council chamber and various rooms, which are decoarated with 15th century tapestries and other works of art.
A merchant market from the 13th century, the square was originally a collection of wooden houses and market stalls. From the 14th century aristocratic families began to build stone houses here and gradually the square became the political and commercial centre of the city.
The buildings in the Grand Place were mostly destroyed during the bombardment of Brussels by the French in Aug 1695, although the external structure of Hotel de Ville survived. The city guilds rebuilt the Grand Place in just five years, between 1695 and 1700.
It is this square we see today, with its tall, gabled, Flemish Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque buildings decorated with italo-flamish facades, embellished with gold gildings, sculptures and ornate columns.
How to Get There
Metro: Gare Centrale station
or Bourse Station
 | | Hotel de Ville |
 | | Maison du Roi |
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