Grand Place area. Grand Place - the most beautiful square in Europe La Grand Place in Brussels

The historic Grand Place is of great importance for the Belgian capital. The most significant sights of the city are located on the square. In addition, the Grand Place has a rich past, which tourists from all over the world enjoy looking at today.

Grand Place: echoes of history

Market Square in the capital of Belgium was rebuilt in the 13th century. On the site of dried marshes, counters were set up and the first Bread House was built. Bread was stored in this building for a long time. Then the people began to call this place the House of the King.

In the 15th century on main square The town hall was built in the Gothic style. In 1695, Brussels came under fire, all buildings and structures on the market square were almost completely destroyed. Only the town hall and the Bread House survived.

Grand Place in 1895

After the end of the war, the Belgian rich restored the square by building houses of their guilds there. Thus, the Grand Place acquired its current appearance, which is so pleasing and impressive to all those who see it for the first time.

Brussels Square today

The Grand Place can rightly be called the "square of flowers". Since 1971, florists have been creating a flower carpet on the square. The action begins in mid-August. The flowers are fragrant and bloom all the time, as long as it is warm enough outside.

Begonias are used to decorate the Grand Place. Flower ornament covers an area of ​​1800 square meters.

The King's house on the square is today given over to a museum. There are exhibitions of fine arts.

There are 33 buildings of various guilds along the perimeter of the square. They are made in pseudo-Gothic style. There are also buildings in the Baroque style.

Every morning, flower and bird markets open on the Grand Place. In addition, the square itself is included in the world list of the UNESCO organization.

Not far from the famous square is the iconic Belgian statue of Manneken Pis.

Hotels and restaurants successfully operate in the historic buildings of the Grand Place. There are many shops on the territory of the square, which do not spoil its appearance at all, but hide behind the old facades of houses of interest.

In the evening, the buildings are illuminated on the Grand Place, and the old square begins to resemble a picture from a fairy tale. IN winter holidays on the Grand Place, the main Christmas tree of the capital is installed. All festivities and Christmas markets of the Belgians take place there.

How to get to the Grand Place?

Almost all urban transport in Brussels stops at stops near the square. Only 400 meters separate the Grand Place from the city railway station. Therefore, from there it is possible to reach the square on foot.

The following metro stations are located near the square:

• De Brouckere;
• Gare Centrale.

The bus stop at the square is called Parlement Bruxellois. The tram stop is marked Beurs. The most significant sights of the capital are located within walking distance from the Grand Place.

Last winter, 2013, I had the good fortune to visit Belgium in December, for Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my tour did not go without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place turns into a real fairy tale in a decorated Christmas tree, with illumination around the entire perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
The Light Show was organized that year. 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 resounded to the beat throughout the square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its overflows. I saw this for the first time in my life, and, I must say, I was very surprised and moved, as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes around 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 the usual cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it's nice, because coffee is always served with a bar of Belgian chocolate, or Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter, 2013, I had the good fortune to visit Belgium in December, for Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my tour did not go without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale with a decorated Christmas tree, illuminated around the perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
The Light Show was organized that year. 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 resounded to the beat throughout the square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its overflows. I saw this for the first time in my life, and, I must say, I was very surprised and moved, as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes around 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 the usual cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it's nice, because coffee is always served with a bar of Belgian chocolate, or Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter, 2013, I had the good fortune to visit Belgium in December, for Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my tour did not go without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale with a decorated Christmas tree, illuminated around the perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
The Light Show was organized that year. 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 resounded to the beat throughout the square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its overflows. I saw this for the first time in my life, and, I must say, I was very surprised and moved, as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes around 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 the usual cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it's nice, because coffee is always served with a bar of Belgian chocolate, or Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter, 2013, I had the good fortune to visit Belgium in December, for Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my tour did not go without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale with a decorated Christmas tree, illuminated around the perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
The Light Show was organized that year. 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 resounded to the beat throughout the square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its overflows. I saw this for the first time in my life, and, I must say, I was very surprised and moved, as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes around 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 the usual cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it's nice, because coffee is always served with a bar of Belgian chocolate, or Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.
Last winter, 2013, I had the good fortune to visit Belgium in December, for Christmas, which is considered one of the main holidays in Western Europe, including Belgium. And, of course, my tour did not go without visiting the main square of Brussels. La Grande Place in winter turns into a real fairy tale with a decorated Christmas tree, illuminated around the perimeter. Not only tourists, but also the Belgians themselves come to see this magic.
The Light Show was organized that year. 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 resounded to the beat throughout the square and went into the nearby streets, and the multi-colored illumination itself flooded the entire square with its overflows. I saw this for the first time in my life, and, I must say, I was very surprised and moved, as if you are merging with the Middle Ages.
There are cafes around 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 the usual cafes in Belgium. 3 or 3.5 euros, although on the next street coffee will cost 2 euros. But it's nice, because coffee is always served with a bar of Belgian chocolate, or Leonidas candy, mini cookies or muffins.

Grand Place is one of the main avenues of the Belgian capital, located in the heart of the metropolis and proud of its unique sights. From this famous place it is worth starting excursions around the city, because according to legend, it was this site that laid the foundation for the emergence and development. In addition, it is not only the current, but also the historical center of the capital.

Grand Place in Brussels: the history of creation

The history of the famous old square began in the 12th century, when numerous swamps were dried up on its future territory. Over the next few centuries, the infrastructure of the structure was built:
— In XIII, the famous Bread House appeared or, as it is also called the "King's House"
— In the 15th century, the left side of the City Hall was built.
The end of the 17th century was disastrous for the Grand Place, since during the attack of the French from the well-groomed modern site there were solid ruins, only the Town Hall managed to survive almost in its original form, which lost only the sculptures on the facade and the monument of St. Michael on top of the tower.
After the end of hostilities, the area was quickly reconstructed thanks to the participation of wealthy guilds. Most of the buildings were reminiscent of the style of Louis XIV, and were also carried out in architectural style baroque. The appearance of the square of those times is predominantly preserved to this day.
In 1998, the architectural ensemble of the central square was included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Modern Grand Place in Brussels is a unique architectural monument, which is very popular among tourists and residents of the capital. It impresses with its unusual architecture, as well as historical buildings erected during the Middle Ages located on its expanses:
1) The Brussels City Hall is the most beautiful building in the capital, built in the 15th century and intended for the work of the city administration. Over time, the administration of the capital was moved to another building, but the mayor of the metropolis continues to work in a historical building. Despite the fact that the mayor continues to sit in the town hall, you can appreciate the luxury of its interiors during group tours, which are held for just a few hours, two days a week.
The interior of the building resembles the royal chambers, because expensive materials, gilded decor elements, and chic tapestries were used in its modeling. No less amazing can be considered the facade of the building, which has an asymmetric shape and is decorated with numerous statues of rulers and sculptures of saints.

2) The Bread House (or the House of the King) is an old building, which, despite its second name, has not been used for a single day for the work of monarchs. It is often called the champion among structures that have repeatedly changed their appearance and purpose. So, in the history of construction, its following functions are known:
– in the XIII century the building was used as a warehouse for bakery products
- a few years later it was converted into a place for the detention of criminals
- then it was bought by the Duke of Brabant and played the role of his personal tax office, and then became the family estate of the ruler.
- after the conquest of Brussels by the French, the House of the Duke began to be called the House of the People, which, due to the granting of royal privileges to foreign governors, was renamed the House of the King.
Today, the historic building houses the city museum, the exposition of which is the work of Belgian craftsmen who worked in various historical eras. Among the exhibits of the cultural institution, you can find stunning tapestries, interesting paintings, and even modern reconstructions. historical center cities.
In addition, on the Grand Place for about 30 years in a row, from August 15, for several days, you can watch the parade of flowers that cover the avenue like a fluffy multi-colored carpet.

Grand Place: how to get there?

The Grand Place is located in the very center of the Belgian capital, so you can get to it by several modes of transport:
– trams
Routes No. 3, 4, 31, 32 follow to the main avenue of the city, which stop at the Bourse stop.
— by buses going to the Parlement Bruxellois stop (No. 48 and 95)
Also not far from the Great Square is the metro station De Brouckere.

The magnificent Grand Place in the center of Brussels is majestic and elegant at the same time. Once on this square, you understand that all the other sights of Belgium simply pale in front of this masterpiece of the real gothic art.

through the pages of history

The history of this city square is rooted in the centuries-old thickness of ancient times. All the significant events of this city took place here, the Grand Place saw many rulers and statesmen, great people and celebrities. Each stage of its history is a capture of the pages of urban history:

• XII century - the city Market Square was built on the site of dried marshes;
• XIII century - the Bread House was erected, where bread was stored: hardly anyone at that time could have known that this building would soon turn into the King's House, the main decoration of the square;
• 1402-1455 - the Gothic building of the town hall was built;
• 1695 - the square was destroyed as a result of the shelling of the city by the French army that lasted several days; many sights of Brussels died this year;
• beginning of the 17th century - the Grand Place was rebuilt by rich guilds; now you can see the luxurious guild houses of that time, built in the Baroque or Louis XIV style.

Each building on this square is a real masterpiece of world Gothic art. Nearby are hotels in Brussels, where you can relax after all the excursions.

Grand Place: architectural appearance

The beauty of the square is the buildings that are located on it. For example, the 15th century town hall is unique in its architecture:

• the original town hall tower is 91 meters high;
• its spire is crowned with a weather vane in the form of a 5-meter copper figure of the Archangel Michael;
• the facade of the building is decorated with hundreds of statues;
• the interior of the Town Hall is richly decorated with paintings and carpets;
• in the courtyard you can see two picturesque fountains.

The King's House, which now houses the Belgian City Museum, is a fine example of neo-Gothic style in architecture. You can also visit the beautiful museum complex Royal Museums of Fine Arts.

One of the great traditions of the Grand Place is the creation of a huge carpet of flowers every two years. An incredible sight is a drawing of millions of multi-colored begonias. Its size is 24 x 77 meters, and total area– 1,800 sq. meters.

Once in the very center of Brussels - on the Grand Place - you can not pass by this Gothic splendor. Here you want to walk endlessly, seeing the sights of Brussels, decorating this square with their Gothic lace.

Working hours: a large market is open daily from 9:00 to 20:00.

What is the Grand Place in Brussels famous for, where is it located and how to get there. City Hall, royal house and other famous houses on the Grand Place.

The Grand Place, located in the center, deserves the title of the most beautiful and elegant square in Europe. This is true not only because the entire rubric is entirely devoted to its sights, as Napoleon said when he first found himself in the center of the Grand Place.

And even today, travelers who have seen a lot agree that the buildings that surround the square from all sides in an even square seem to be carved from stone by the most skilled craftsmen. UNESCO, in turn, included the Grand Place ensemble and openwork facades in the list of world cultural heritage.

Sightseeing tours in Brussels

No sightseeing tour of Brussels is complete without a visit to the central Grand Place. If you order one of them, we recommend hinting to the guide that you don't mind seeing the Pissing Boy costume collection, which is located in the Museum of the City.

More democratic group tours- as an option - they do not imply personal preferences, but they still give a general idea of ​​the Grand Place and its attractions.

Famous houses and landmarks

The legend that tells about the origin of the Grand Place is as follows: “Once, King Louis XIV, tired of stories about the beauty and splendor of Brussels, decided to personally visit this city. Imagine his surprise when he discovered that Brussels is indeed much more beautiful than itself! In a fit of anger, the king ordered the destruction of the city, throwing it with burning land mines. But the Belgians are a stubborn people: rich merchants and artisans spared no expense and built a new, even more beautiful central square.”

Thus, the Grand Place is the only medieval square in Europe, the architectural design of which was carefully thought out.

The two elements that form the Brussels Grand Place are the Gothic town hall and the Royal House rebuilt from 1873 to 1896. Without exception, all the houses that belonged to various guilds appeared after 1695. No matter how narrow they were, their architect did not abandon the magnificent baroque decor. On the east side of the Grand Place is the so-called House of the Dukes of Brabant. Six guild houses are hidden behind its facade. On the left is the same Royal House, built in the spirit of historicism and designed in the style of a purely French late Gothic.

Now consider each of the sights of Brussels, located in the perimeter of the Grand Place, or the "Grand Market", as it is also called.

1. Guild houses on the Grand Place

The houses where artisans and merchants who belonged to various professional guilds worked, to this day stand exactly in a row here: the House of the painter, the House of the tailor, the House of the butcher and the House of the boatman. Tour guides recommend paying attention to them in the first place (it is desirable to be able to distinguish one from the other), even before you are blinded by the King's House (aka the "Royal House") and the City Hall.

2. City Hall on the Grand Place

The first in Flanders to build a large town hall began the inhabitants of Bruges. The construction in the style of French Cathedral Gothic expectedly aroused the envy of Brussels, which was on an economic upsurge. So, in 1402, “competitive” construction began on the Grand Place, which, according to the plan of the architects, was to surpass the Bruges counterpart in size and splendor. Initially, the same "reckless" project was implemented as in Bruges, but one floor higher. However, in 1426, when the government consisting of aristocrats was expelled from Brussels, it was decided to complete both the tower and the right wing of the town hall.

So symbolically, the townspeople demonstrated that from now on they “take in hand” both power and fate hometown. Only three decades later, the magnificent town hall on the future Grand Place was ready.

It is believed that from the building that bears the name today Hotel de Ville, further development of the area began. The construction is a cathedral with a spire, going somewhere into the sky: its total height is 96 meters. The spire is crowned with a five-meter copper weather vane depicting the Archangel Michael. The facade was decorated relatively recently - in the last century - in the baroque style, which was then at the peak of popularity, and with an abundance of statues on the facade.

As expected, the town hall in the Belgian capital surpassed the similar building in Bruges in all respects: it is richer decorated and noticeably taller.

3. Royal House on the Grand Place

The "Royal House" is a huge palace that houses the City Museum (The Brussels City Museum). There is an exposition that tells about the history of Brussels, starting from the first days of its foundation. The collection of works of medieval artisans, historical documents and archaeological exhibits may be of interest.

A building with intricate architecture, as if woven from stone like lace, arose on the Grand Place on the site of the “Bread House” located here, in which bread was baked and sold. At the end of the XVII - beginning of the XVIII centuries. The royal house has been completely renovated. By the way, contrary to the name, none of the kings ever lived there.

Working hours Brussels City Museum: daily from 10-00 to 17-00, except Mondays and public holidays. Entrance is paid and includes a single ticket to visit three expositions at once - the historical and archaeological exposition, the Lace Museum and the Manneken Pis Wardrobe. Ticket price: for adults - €8, for students and pensioners - €6, for children under 18 - free of charge.

Flower Festival at the Grand Place

Grand Place in blooming "carpet" of begonias

Once every two years, a fragrant carpet of colorful begonias blooms on the Grand Place. This is a world-class festival, everyone prepares for it in advance. Tourists book hotels for mid-August (dates “float” from year to year, but you can focus on the 15th) in order to “stake out” a room for themselves at an adequate price, and the Belgians near Ghent carefully grow “flower material” that will fill the entire central square, leaving not too spacious footpaths around the perimeter.

The width of the flower carpet on the Grand Place reaches 75-80 m in length and 25 in width. This flower splendor lasts - 3 days. And in order to make the most beautiful pictures, you need to climb observation deck town hall.

Where to stay in Grand Place

Grand Place is the most desirable place in Brussels to live and see interesting places. Do not be afraid that there are only expensive five-star hotels in the area. Hotels at a democratic price - of course, by European standards - are also available:

1.

The address: grand place 15, Brussels, Belgium

The address of the mini-hotel speaks for itself: Grand Place 15. On the dates of the flower festival, rooms are sold out a year and a half in advance. The rest of the time, booking a place is quite realistic if you dream of settling in the very “thick place” and in a historic building. Tip: to get that same view of the Grand Place, you need to book a room on the side of the square, as the rooms also face the "back".

2. Warwick Brussels - Grand Place

Address: Rue Duquesnoy 5, Brussels, Belgium

Five-star hotel in a historic building with classic-style rooms. Guests note the convenient location (3 minutes from the Grand Place and other attractions, as well as the train station), the professionalism of the staff and the delicious varied breakfasts. The cost is even cheaper than the Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place Brussels overlooking the square.

3 B&B Vaudeville

Address: Galerie de la Reine 15, Brussels, Belgium

Hotels in Grand Place: B&B Vaudeville

Bed/breakfast at Galerie de la Reine 15 (it's a 5-minute walk to the Grand Place, closer to the sculpture). Stylish modern hotel where each of the rooms is individually designed. The rooms are spacious, with huge beds (they obviously did not save on mattresses and linen) and baths.

Where to eat on the Grand Place - cafes and restaurants

admire architectural ensemble the square is most convenient from a cafe nearby. The prices there are not cheap, but acceptable for a one-time promotion. To be more precise - pan-European. But more important is the view from the window that opens from every restaurant. I know three cafes where you can drink coffee and have a snack:

• La Chaloupe d'Or- a solid restaurant at Grand Place 24-25. Mix of Belgian, French and pan-European cuisine with beautiful view to the Grand Place. You can have a full lunch (a large selection of first, second courses, appetizers) and drink a glass of wine.
• Beer Tasting Experience- for €16, they conduct an express tour of local brewing: they tell how it wins hearts, how and with what to use it correctly. In order not to be bored in the process, 5 varieties of foamy drink are served - from classics to the most original tastes (all included in the price). It is located on the first floor of the town hall.
• El Greco- Fans of healthy food and Mediterranean cuisine find it difficult in Belgium, where there are fried potatoes, steaks and liters of beer all around. At Grand Place 36 you will find a nice Greek restaurant.

Everard ‘t Serclaes - a place of fulfillment of desires

There is one more iconic place in a square that is easy to miss if you are unaware of its existence. This is a sculpture to the brave knight Everard ‘t Serclaes, who liberated Brussels from the invaders. The bronze monument resting in one of the arched walls of the Grand Place, at the crossroads of the square and Rue Charles Bulle, on the way to Mannequin Pis -, today grants wishes.

Whether the knight likes it or not, tourists rush to him in order to rub their hands and chest properly and someday return to the capital of Belgium.

The body parts of Everard ‘t Serclaes, polished to a golden sheen, became a plus.

How to get to the Grand Place

Not far from the Grand Place there is a metro station Central Station / Brouckère: 1-5. If you are going by bus, then you need number 48 or 95. By train you can get directly to Central Station - the railway station is 10 minutes away.

Prices and description
- addresses, programs, dates
- how to get there