 | |
  Location within Brussels   Grand-Place (Belgium) | |
| Native name | |
|---|---|
| Length | 110 m (360 ft) |
| Width | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Location | City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
| Quarter | Central Quarter |
| Postal code | 1000 |
| Coordinates | 50°50′48″N 4°21′9″E / 50.84667°N 4.35250°E |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv |
| Reference | 857 |
| Inscription | 1998 (22nd Session) |
| Area | 1.48 hectares (3.7 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 20.93 hectares (51.7 acres) |
The Grand-Place (French: [ɡʁɑ̃ plas]; "Grand Square"; also used in English[a]) or Grote Markt (Dutch: [ˌɣroːtə ˈmɑr(ə)kt] ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger edifices; the city's Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic King's House or Bread House[b] building, containing the Brussels City Museum.[2] The square measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft) and is entirely paved.
The Grand-Place's construction began in the 11th century and was largely complete by the 17th. In 1695, during the Nine Years' War, most of the square was destroyed during the bombardment of Brussels by French troops. Only the façade and the tower of the Town Hall, which served as a target for the artillery, and some stone walls resisted the incendiary balls. The houses that surrounded the Grand-Place were rebuilt during subsequent years, giving the square its current appearance, though they were frequently modified in the following centuries.[3] From the mid-19th century, the square's heritage value was rediscovered, and it was thoroughly renovated.[4][5][6]
Nowadays, the Grand-Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels.[7] It is also considered one of the world's most beautiful squares,[8][9] and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.[10] The square frequently hosts festive and cultural events, among them, in August of every even year, the installation of an immense flower carpet in its centre.[11] It is also a centre of annual celebrations during the Christmas and New Year period, and a Christmas tree has been erected annually on the square since the mid-20th century.[12]
This site is served by the premetro (underground tram) station Bourse/Beurs (on lines 3 and 4), as well as the bus stop Grand-Place/Grote Markt (on line 95).[13]
- ^ "place | Etymology, origin and meaning of place by Etymonline". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ State 2004, p. 187.
- ^ Culot et al. 1992.
- ^ Mardaga 1993, p. 121–122.
- ^ De Vries 2003, p. 39.
- ^ Heymans 2011, p. 127–153.
- ^ Mardaga 1993, p. 122.
- ^ "Grand-Place". visit.brussels. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "The world's most beautiful city squares - perfect places for people-watching". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "La Grand-Place, Brussels". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ State 2004, p. 129–130.
- ^ "Christmas tree at the Grand-Place". www.brussels.be. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Ligne 95 vers GRAND-PLACE - STIB Mobile". m.stib.be. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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