5656 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG REGION BY REGION
The geographical, historical and commercial heart
of the city, the Grand Place is the first port of call for
most visitors to Brussels. The square remains the civic
centre centuries after its creation, and offers the finest
example of Belgium’s ornate 17th-century architecture
in one area. Open-air markets took place around this
site as early as the 11th century, although Brussels’s
town hall, the Hôtel de Ville, was built only by the
end of the 15th century. City traders further added
guildhouses in a medley of styles. In 1695, the French
destroyed all but the town hall and two guild façades
over three days of cannon fire. Urged to rebuild in
styles approved by the Town Council, the guilds
produced the harmonious unity of Flemish Baroque
buildings that is seen here today.The Grand Place
The Grand Place flower market
displaying colourful bloomsThe Hôtel de Ville (see p58)
occupies the entire southwest
side of the square. Still a func-
tioning civic building, Brussels’s
town hall is the architectural
masterpiece of the Grand Place.5 EVERARD ‘T SERCLAES 6 HÔTEL DE VILLE2 MAISON DU ROIEverard ‘t Serclaes was
murdered defending Brussels
in 1388. Touching the arm
of his statue is said to
bring luck.1 NORTHEAST CORNERThe spire was
built by Jan van
Ruysbroeck in- It stands
96-m (315-ft)
high and is a
little crooked.
Gilded statue
of St Michael
killing the devil.The Maison du Roi was first built in
1536 and redesigned in 1873. Once
the home of the ruling Spanish mon-
archs, it now
has the Musée
de la Ville
de Bruxelles,
which includes
paint ings,
tapestries and
the many tiny
outfits of the
Manneken-Pis.