14 Facts About Grand Place

Grand Place's construction began in the 11th century and was largely complete by the 17th.

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.

Nowadays, the Grand Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels.

At this point, the Grand Place was still haphazardly laid out, and the buildings along the edges had a motley tangle of gardens and irregular additions.

Brussels' Town Hall was erected in stages, between 1401 and 1455, on the south side of the Grand Place, transforming the square into the seat of municipal power.

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Grand Place witnessed many tragic events unfold during its history.

At the first hours of Independence, in 1830, the Grand Place became, for an extremely short time, the "Square of Regency".

Grand Place attracted many famous visitors during that period, among them Victor Hugo, who resided in the guildhall in 1851.

Grand Place continued to serve as a market until 19 November 1959, and it is still called the in Dutch.

In 1990, the Grand Place was pedestrianised, a first step in the pedestrianisation of central Brussels, and it is currently part of a large pedestrian zone in the centre of Brussels.

Grand Place was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998.

Grand Place'storians think that it could be William de Voghel who was the architect of the City of Brussels in 1452, and who was, at that time, the designer of the ; the great hall at the Palace of Coudenberg.

Grand Place adorned the facade with statues and other decorations.

Grand Place is lined on each side with a number of guildhalls and a few private houses.