The Grand Place, or Grote Markt, is an important historical and tourist centre of Brussels, where the City Hall and the King's House (or Bread House) are located. The ensemble of the market square, built in Louis XIV and Baroque style, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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 artisans: the House of the Painter, the House of the Tailor, the House of the Boatman. The most most impressive are the King's House and the Town Hall. The Town Hall was erected in 1402, its tall spire is adorned with a five-metre copper weathervane in the form of Archangel Michael, and the statues on the façade depict various stories from the life of the city.
The huge King's House is now home to the Communal Museum, which tells the story of the creation of Brussels. Despite its name, this building has never been the seat of any king. The lacy stone architecture of the King's House was built on the site of the former Bread House, where bread was baked and sold in the 13th century.
Twice a year, a huge rectangular carpet of flowers is created in the square, which decorates the Grand Place for three days. Multicoloured begonias are specially grown near Ghent for this occasion.
To admire this grandiose spectacle and the beauty of the architectural ensemble you can cosy up in one of the cafes on the square. Here you will also see the famous tavern "The Golden Barque", where Victor Hugo lived, as well as the restaurant "The House of the Swan", whose entrance is adorned with a swan sculpture. It was in this restaurant was the pub where Marx and Engels first read the "Manifesto of the Communist Party".
