Grote Markt

The Grand-Place (in Dutch: Grote Markt or officially Markt) is the Grand-Place in Bruges. The square, located in the heart of the city center covers an area of 1 hectare. In the South of the square is the main monument of the city, the belfry of Bruges, dating from the twelfth century.

The Grand Place in Bruges (named Grote Markt in Flemish and for 3 years Napoleon square in the year 1807) is one of the key places of the city. Located in the Center and extending over 1 hectare, the cobbled square is surrounded by important monuments: the belfry or the provincial Palace, for example.

All around, the buildings of various eras to the colorful facades with their trade base (mainly restaurants) supplement the unit.

• On the North side, a typical set of gabled houses close to the place. Behind this façade, the curious will imagine the remains of the old St Christophe church (the façade shift and the small Geernaartstraat passage allow to locate the Church on the left of the north side).
• The Eastern side, the provincial Palace is the major element. The blue stone building on the left is the residence of the Governor even if the places have never been used for their original function.
• In the South, the belfry of Bruges soars in the sky. Massive at its base and of primitive Gothic style, it makes a very substantial use of local bricks.
• The West hosts several different styles of buildings with temporal landmarks now obsolete: a weather vane and a ball of Quetelet (anemoscope). On the ground, in front of the Bouchoute House, nails inserted into the ground show the exact location of the Meridian.

In the middle of Markt is a statue representing Pieter de Coninck and Jan Breydel, the famous revolutionaries in the 14th century who fought against the privileges of blood. The statue, erected in the year 1887 by the Belgian sculptor Paul de vigne, shows the two characters’ sword and flag in hand over the enemy.

The Markt in the heart of the life of Bruges

In the past, a large covered warehouse connected by channels overlooked the Grand-place: the Waterhalle. The channels are always present (but underground) however the warehouse no longer exists since the 18th century.

The market takes place every week on Wednesday morning since the 10th century and the Christmas market is held there every year with skating rink and huts of holiday products. This place is also a very important place for events (processions, religious, departure of the Tour of Flanders bike, big concerts...).

The place is mainly pedestrian since 1995 (it was used before parking) and only the tourist vehicles stop there.

Source https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Place_de_Bruges