The Grand Place also known as Grote Markt is regarded as one of the best squares in Europe.
With architectures ranging from
Gothic, Baroque and Louis XIV eras coupled with beautiful alleys and popular
restaurants that serve mouth-watering food, Grand Place ranks among the top
must-visit attractions of Belgium.
Feel like getting a Belgium Visa so
that you can visit this iconic place with your loved ones? Before you do that,
read our brief guide to know the best places to visit and things to do in Grand
Place.
A Brief History of the Grand Place
Originally, the Brussels Grand Place
was a marketplace where numerous traders and citizens used to trade goods.
Did you know? The streets surrounding
the square are named after food. It’s due to the marketplace that the Place was
in the olden times. Some of the streets are:
·
Rue du Marché aux
Herbes - Herbs
·
Rue au Beurre -
Butter
·
Rue du Marché aux
Fromages – Cheese
But, as time passed, the market stands
had to go for the city expansion which meant grand buildings took the prime
places and these are what surround the Grand Place today.
During the bombardment of Brussels,
most of the buildings were damaged and it was after 1695 that most of the
buildings were restored including the Grand Place.
