Grand Place Brussels Belgium. Grand Place in Brussels (Grand place, Grote Markt)

Last winter 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to visit Belgium in December, on Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my excursion was not complete without visiting main square Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale, decorated with a Christmas tree, illuminated along the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
That year the Light Show was organized. It lasted throughout December. You could come every day, but only at certain time(I was there at 5 pm) and enjoy this fairy tale. Organ music echoed in rhythm throughout the entire square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its tints. I saw this for the first time in my life, and I must say, I was very surprised and touched, it’s as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes along the entire perimeter of the square. There you can always drink a cup of hot coffee and relax - watching while sitting and enjoying hot coffee is much more pleasant than just standing and watching in the square. I won't lie, the price of coffee in the square is different from regular cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it’s nice, because with coffee they always bring a bar of Belgian chocolate, or a Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter of 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to visit Belgium in December, at Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my excursion was not complete without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale, decorated with a Christmas tree, illuminated along the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
That year the Light Show was organized. It lasted throughout December. Every day you could come, but only at a certain time (I was there at 5 pm), and enjoy this fairy tale. Organ music echoed in rhythm throughout the entire square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its tints. I saw this for the first time in my life, and I must say, I was very surprised and touched, it’s as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes along the entire perimeter of the square. There you can always drink a cup of hot coffee and relax - watching while sitting and enjoying hot coffee is much more pleasant than just standing and watching in the square. I won't lie, the price of coffee in the square is different from regular cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it’s nice, because with coffee they always bring a bar of Belgian chocolate, or a Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter of 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to visit Belgium in December, at Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my excursion was not complete without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale, decorated with a Christmas tree, illuminated along the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
That year the Light Show was organized. It lasted throughout December. Every day you could come, but only at a certain time (I was there at 5 pm), and enjoy this fairy tale. Organ music echoed in rhythm throughout the entire square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its tints. I saw this for the first time in my life, and I must say, I was very surprised and touched, it’s as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes along the entire perimeter of the square. There you can always drink a cup of hot coffee and relax - watching while sitting and enjoying hot coffee is much more pleasant than just standing and watching in the square. I won't lie, the price of coffee in the square is different from regular cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it’s nice, because with coffee they always bring a bar of Belgian chocolate, or a Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter of 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to visit Belgium in December, at Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my excursion was not complete without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale, decorated with a Christmas tree, illuminated along the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
That year the Light Show was organized. It lasted throughout December. Every day you could come, but only at a certain time (I was there at 5 pm), and enjoy this fairy tale. Organ music echoed in rhythm throughout the entire square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its tints. I saw this for the first time in my life, and I must say, I was very surprised and touched, it’s as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes along the entire perimeter of the square. There you can always drink a cup of hot coffee and relax - watching while sitting and enjoying hot coffee is much more pleasant than just standing and watching in the square. I won't lie, the price of coffee in the square is different from regular cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it’s nice, because with coffee they always bring a bar of Belgian chocolate, or a Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter of 2013, I had the lucky opportunity to visit Belgium in December, at Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my excursion was not complete without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale, decorated with a Christmas tree, illuminated along the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
That year the Light Show was organized. It lasted throughout December. Every day you could come, but only at a certain time (I was there at 5 pm), and enjoy this fairy tale. Organ music echoed in rhythm throughout the entire square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its tints. I saw this for the first time in my life, and I must say, I was very surprised and touched, it’s as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes along the entire perimeter of the square. There you can always drink a cup of hot coffee and relax - watching while sitting and enjoying hot coffee is much more pleasant than just standing and watching in the square. I won't lie, the price of coffee in the square is different from regular cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it’s nice, because with coffee they always bring a bar of Belgian chocolate, or a Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.

The Grand Place, or Grote Markt, is an important historical and tourist center of Brussels, where City Hall and the King's House (or Bread House). The ensemble of the market square, built in the style Louis XIV and Baroque, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Grand Place is the most magnificent and elegant central square, surrounded by a square of carefully selected architectural masterpieces belonging to the guilds of merchants and craftsmen: the House of the Painter, the House of the Tailor, the House of the Boatman. The most impressive are the King's House and the City Hall. The town hall was built in 1402, its high spire is decorated with a five-meter copper weather vane in the form of the Archangel Michael, and the statues of the facade depict various stories from the life of the city.

IN huge House King today houses the Communal Museum, which tells the story of the creation of Brussels. Despite its name, this building has never been the home of any king. The lacy stone architecture of the King's House arose on the site of the former Bread House, where in the 13th century. baked and sold bread.

Twice a year, a huge rectangular carpet of flowers is created on the square, decorating the Grand Place for three days. Multi-colored begonias are specially grown near Ghent for this occasion.

You can admire this grandiose spectacle and the beauty of the architectural ensemble by sitting comfortably in one of the cafes on the square. Here you will see the famous Golden Longboat tavern, where Victor Hugo lived, as well as the Swan House restaurant, the entrance to which is decorated with a swan sculpture. It was in this restaurant that the beer hall was located where Marx and Engels first read the “Manifesto of the Communist Party.”

Brussels is rich in sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There were three of them here. But the most visited is the former market square, the central square of the city, La Grand-Place.

It is visited by almost, if not everyone, who comes to the capital of Belgium. Many do not even suspect that this area is separately allocated to the respected international organization. However, in 1998 La Grand-Place was included in the list of UNESCO sites under number 857.

The official UNESCO website comments on the inclusion of the square in its list:
"La Grande Place in Brussels is an outstanding complex of public and private buildings dating mainly from the end of the 17th century. Their architecture clearly illustrates the level of social and cultural life of Brussels as an important political and shopping center Europe at that time" (whc.unesco.org/en/list/857)

Well versed English They can read a lot more on the UNESCO website, but I will allow myself a short historical excursion and a few photos of the objects that form this architectural ensemble.

UNESCO defines La Grand-Place as a 15th century monument. It is this century that dates back to the construction of the majestic Gothic town hall, which is completely preserved and defines the face of the entire complex of buildings

The town hall began construction in 1402, and acquired its final form in 1455 with the completion of the bell tower, 96 meters high. It is the only surviving building in the center of Brussels after the French artillery bombardment in 1695. The Town Hall sometimes serves as the mayor's residence to this day, but is mostly used for tourist excursions.

An even more ancient building, although partially destroyed in the same 1695 and later restored, is the Bread House or the King's House (Dutch Broodhuis, French Maison du Roi)

The bread house was built in the 13th century on the market, where bread was baked and sold. But during the reign of Emperor Charles V at the beginning of the 16th century, the house was rebuilt in the Gothic style. Since then they have started talking about it as the “House of the King”. So until now it has two equivalent names. Now there is a Brussels Museum, in which, among numerous valuable exhibits, there are more than five hundred costumes of the “Manneken Pis”, the first, fully preserved costume of which was donated by the French King Louis XV back in 1747.

The remaining buildings bearing common name"Guild houses" were built here over a four-year period by various Brussels guilds immediately after the destruction of the city center at the end of the 17th century.

That morning, October 6, 2014, when I photographed this material, it was cloudy. But, I think, this will not prevent you from leaving the brightest impressions about the square... For a greater impression, you can see how bright and contrasting the same place looked the night before Night cities... Central Square of Brussels + bonus

P.S. I'll add a few words to last photo monument to Everard "t Serclaes - the folk hero of Brussels. (for those who want to know who it is, I give the link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everard…) I noticed how many tourists stand in line to touch, or better yet, rub something part of the sculpture’s body it definitely means something, and I “rubbed” it too.

It turned out that the locals believe that the statue brings good luck and helps in the fulfillment of desires if you touch it (zealous tourists have already begun to rub it). And, if you touch your hand, you will definitely return to Brussels someday...

The decoration of the architectural complex of the square can rightly be called the Gothic Town Hall (Hotel de Ville, XV century). Oddly enough, it remained the only ancient building that survived in this square, although in 1695 it was the main target of French artillerymen. The town hall is crowned by a 97 m high tower, built in the 15th century by the architect Jan van Ruysbroeck. In 1997, after restoration, the gilded figure of St. Michael, the patron saint of the city, was reinstalled on the tower. The building is asymmetrical: it was not possible to complete the construction of the western wing in accordance with the plan, since Karl the Bold forbade narrowing the passage along the neighboring street, so the wing is somewhat shorter than the eastern wing. The first floor is decorated with a portico with 17 arches. The high window openings of the upper floors are decorated with sculpture. In the Gothic meeting room (25 x 12 m, 16th century) the flooring is oak with ebony inserts, and the ceiling and walls are decorated with gilded stucco and tapestries (1875-1881) . The town hall regularly hosts excursions €5 adults, €3 students. and pensions, children under 6 years old - free.

Since the city government was located on the Grand Place, all craft workshops and trade guilds built their representative offices on it - guild houses (Guildhalls). Each house had its own name and symbol, which have survived to this day. For example, Baker's House (Maison des Boulangers) decorated with six allegorical figures representing Strength, Bread, Wind, Fire, Water and Caution. House Wheelbarrow (La Brouette) first belonged to the workshop of tallow traders, later to the workshop of tallow candle traders; in 1912, a statue of St. Egidia (Joseph van Hamme). House Bag (Le Sac) was the pride of coopers and cabinetmakers, and the Volchitsa house (La Louve), which belonged to the archers' guild, is decorated with a gilded phoenix - a symbol of the restoration of Grand-Place after the French bombardment. House Rozhok (Le Cornet) occupied by a shipwright's shop; its architectural decoration resembles the stern of a ship. House of Foxes (Le Renard)- the headquarters of the haberdashery workshop, decorated with the figure of St. Nicholas. In ancient times, from the balcony of the Zvezda house (L'Etoile) The Brussels prosecutor monitored the execution of the sentences. Here I completed my life path national hero Everard Circles (Everard"t Serclaes). This patriot, who prevented the Flemings from capturing Brussels in 1356, died in 1388, again defending hometown. A cenotaph was erected under the building's colonnade in memory of him. (memorial tombstone), which is popularly called the “Sleeping Knight”. There is a belief that great luck awaits those who touch the bronze hand of a knight. House Swan (Le Sygne) decorated with an image of a swan. Initially, the house was a butcher shop, then a restaurant was opened here, which Marx and Engels loved to go to. House Dove (Le Pigeon) belonged to the guild of city artists; in 1852, Victor Hugo, expelled from France, lodged there.

In 1695, after a 36-hour bombardment by French artillery, most of the guild houses were destroyed. They were restored to early XVIII century. In 1998, the Grand Place was included by UNESCO in the List of World Cultural Heritage Monuments. In August, for three days, a carpet of begonia flowers is laid out on the square. (110 by 68 m), and in winter the skating rink is filled.

Opposite the town hall was the King's House (Maison du Roi), which now houses the Brussels City Museum (Musee de la Ville de Bruxelles; tel. 02 279 43 50, Tue-Wed, Fri-Sun 10.00-17.00, Thu until 20.00, Mon closed. €4 adults, €3 pence, and students, children under 6 years - for free). Exhibits on three floors introduce the history of the city. On the ground floor there is a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder “Wedding Procession” (Cortege de Noces, 1567). One of the halls on the third floor is dedicated to gifts to the symbol of Brussels - the Manneken Pis (Manneken-pis). More than eight hundred outfits are stored here - from national costumes, including Ukrainian Cossack, to costumes of Santa Claus and Elvis.

Next to the square is also the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (Musee du Cacao et du Chocolat), which presents the history of chocolate production, methods of preparing Belgian praline, a collection of labels of famous chocolate brands (Rue de la Tete d'Or, 9-11, m. Bourse, tel. 02 514 20 48 Tue-Sun 10.00-16.30, closed Mon.).

To visit Brussels and not see the Grand Place (Market Square, or Grote Markt in Flemish) is to miss one of the most important places in the city. It is not for nothing that this area is included in the UNESCO World List as an object of world cultural and historical significance, and Victor Hugo expressed the opinion that this is one of most beautiful places in Europe.

The most interesting buildings of the square are considered to be the town hall and the Royal, or Bread House. These are the oldest buildings that survived the shelling of the square in August 1695 by French troops.

A little history:

Back in the early 12th century, there were swamps in this place, which were then drained. Once upon a time there was an extended section of the shepherd's road along which they drove livestock. In subsequent years, the square was the site of knightly tournaments for the Burgundian nobility.

2.
Royal House on the Grand Place

In the 13th century, the building of the Bread House appeared, which served as a warehouse for food. In Dutch it is still called that, and in French it is the Royal House. At the end of the 19th century, the house was renovated in the spirit of the luxurious Baroque of the 16th century. The building is now occupied by the City Museum. In one of its halls, 350 ancient costumes are collected, and 517 outfits for the “pissing boy” are stored here.

The town hall was erected during the heyday of Gothic (91-meter tower 1402-1455, side parts until 1480). On the spire of the town hall tower there is a 5-meter weather vane made of copper, depicting how the Archangel Michael tramples on the dark forces.

The statues on the facade were destroyed, and in the 20th century they were restored from surviving images. Interior decoration The town hall is interesting with its locally made paintings and wall hangings. The courtyard is decorated with fountains depicting the Meuse and Scheldt - the most important rivers.

After the Belgian-French War in the late 17th century, merchants from wealthy guilds quickly rebuilt houses around the square.

33 new buildings in the then fashionable pseudo-Gothic and Baroque style, in combination with the Gothic style of the town hall, largely shaped the modern appearance of the square.

3.
View of the square

In even-numbered years, starting from 1986, on August 15-18, a flower carpet of different varieties of begonias is created on the Market Square. The result is a drawing measuring 24m X 77m, the area of ​​which is about 1.8 thousand square meters. Crowds of beauty lovers flock to Brussels these days.

Every morning there is a flower market on the Grand Place, and on Sundays there is also a bird market.

In a side street next to the square behind a secure fence there is a small figurine of the “Manneken Pis”, the unofficial symbol of Brussels and the most famous Belgian monument. The first version of the statue appeared in the 14th century, but, unfortunately, it has not survived.

Drawings on the asphalt after the terrorist attack in March 2016:

On March 22, a series of terrorist attacks occurred in Brussels in the metro and airport, causing casualties. After the attacks, city residents left numerous drawings around the Grand Place to commemorate the event, with messages of peace, love and solidarity: