Brussels
The Grand-Place is the main square of Brussels. It is surrounded by the medieval town hall, the King's House and the houses of the old guilds.
An ancient market
A document from 1174 already mentions a market on this spot. People called it the "lower market", because it lay near the river, in the low part of the city. Cloth, bread, meat and many other goods were sold here.
The town hall and its tower
The town hall was built in several stages in the 1400s. The tower is very tall, like a thirty-storey building, and covered in pinnacles and little windows. At the top stands Saint Michael, the city's protector, defeating a winged monster. Today's statue is a copy: the original is in the museum opposite.
The guild houses
The guilds were associations of merchants and craftsmen. Each one had its own house on the square and decorated it to show how rich it was. The façades have curious names, such as the Fox, the Wheelbarrow, the Swan and the She-Wolf.
A square in celebration
Every year concerts, little markets and big festivals take place here. At Christmas a very tall tree arrives, along with a light show. The whole city comes to watch, and locals always find their favourite corners again.
