Grand Place in Brussels
Brussels Streets and Neighbourhoods: information about Grand Place
The Grand Place or the central market square is one of most beautiful places to visit in Brussels.
This historic landmark of Brussels has some grand structures in its vicinity such as the striking Town Hall and the marvellous guild houses.
The structure is included in the World Heritage Site list by UNESCO.
Originally the Grand Place formed a sand bank between two streams. This later changed to a market place which gained commercial importance in the twelfth century as French wines, German beer and English wool started selling here in the market and the harbour.
Earlier wooden houses found around the market place which were transformed into stone mansions by the rich and powerful families of the fourteenth century.
Then the construction of the town hall began and this location became an important meeting venue for political discussions.
