La Grand-Place, Brussels Belgium

La Grand-Place, Brussels - Belgium

Short Report

La Grand-Place in Brussels is a remarkably homogenous body of public and private buildings, dating from the late 17th century. The architecture provides a vivid illustration of the level of social and cultural life of the period in this important political and commercial center.

Wide Report

The Grand-Place is an excellent example of the eclectic and very successful blending of architectural and artistic styles that is characteristic of the culture and society of the region. By the nature and the quality of the architecture and of the excellent quality as a public open space, it illustrates in development of an exceptional way and the results of a very successful mercantile city in the north of Europe at the height of its prosperity. The oldest written mention of the Nedermarckt (Lower Market), as it was originally known, dating from 1174. The current name was in use in the last quarter of the 18th century.

It is located on a former marshland on the right bank of the river Senne, east of the castellum, a defensive outwork of the castle built around 977 by Charles of France, Duke of Lower Lotharingia. The swamp was drained from the 12th century. The current rectangular outline of the Grand'Place, in the course of the centuries as a result of successive enlargements and other changes, and not in its final form until after 1695. However, he has always been seven streets. In the 13th and 14th century the market was surrounded by urban areas steenen off (the stone Cloth, bread and Meat Halls or markets) and half-timbered houses, separated by heirs, gardens, or ambiti (passages as fire-breaks). In the 15th century the houses on the south side was replaced by the east and west wing of the Town Hall (1401-44) with the clock tower (1449).  A new Bread Hall was built on the north side in 1405.

The bread Hall was demolished in 1512-13 and replaced by a large building was given the name 'King's House' (La Maison du Roi).  In the course of the 16th century many of the houses are built with new facades in Renaissance or Baroque-style. On August 14, 1695 Louis XIV of France ordered marshal Villeroy to bombard the city as a retaliation after the destruction of the French coastal towns and ports by Dutch and English warships. Despite the seriousness of the bombing, the reconstruction quickly, thanks to the action of the municipality and the generous support of other cities and provinces. In a remarkable ordinance issued in 1697 by the city magistrate, all proposals for the reconstruction of facades had to be submitted to the authorities for approval, so that for the preservation of the harmony of the square. In four years time the Grand-Place was fully restored to the original layout and design.

The Hotel de Ville (city hall), in which most of the south side of the Grand'Place, consists of a group of buildings around a rectangular courtyard. The part points to the square is from the 15th century, consisting of two L-shaped buildings. The entire facade is decorated with images of the 19th century. The southern part of the complex is an understated classic building that connect the U-shaped plan of the Gothic buildings, built in the 18th century. Opposite the Town Hall on the square is another important feature, the Maison du Roi (King's House), now used as the Stedelijk Museum. In 1873 the community decided that the conservation status was so bad that it would be demolished and rebuilt. The reconstruction is based on the original. The result is a three-storey brick building with a facade archways, gable roof and centrally located tower with lantern.

Each of the houses around the Grand'Place, which vary considerably in size, has its own name: Les Ducs de Brabant, Le Roi de l'Espagne, Le Cornet, Le Cygne, the Maison des Brasseurs, Le Cerf, La Maison des Tailleurs. The degree of conservation of original elements in the houses around the Grand'Place is quite variable. In some cases almost no changes have taken place since the beginning of the 18th century, while in other major conversion and modernization. In a number of cases the ground floors have been converted for use in shops, restaurants or cafes.

Historical Data

It is located on the marshland to the right bank of the river Senne, east of the castellum, a defensive outwork of the castle built around 977 by Charles of France, Duke of Lower Lotharingia. It is bounded in the north by the Spiegelbeek stream and in the south and east by a sandbank and sloping down from the east to the west, such as the names of some houses witnesses (No 6 La Montagne, amendments 10 and 18 La Colline).  The swamp was drained from the 12th century (or perhaps slightly earlier).

The current rectangular outline of the Grand-Place has over the centuries as a result of successive enlargements and other changes, and not in its final form until after 1695. However, he has always been seven streets. In the 13th and 14th century the market was surrounded by urban areas steenen off (the stone Cloth, bread and Meat Halls or markets) and half-timbered houses, separated by heirs, gardens, or ambiti (passages as fire-breaks).

In the second half of the 14th century a huge Lakenhal was built on the south side of the square. In 1396 the urban authorities expropriated a large number of buildings on the north side with a view to the enlargement and straightening. In the 15th century the houses on the south side was replaced by the east and west wing of the Town Hall (1401-44) and the bell tower (1449).  A new Bread Hall was built on the north side in 1405. In 1441 the rough aligned houses on the east side were scrapped and replaced by six contiguous buildings on the same line. Around this time the houses around the square were systematically taken over by the companies and the guilds that since the 1420s played a role in the administration and the improvement of the Grand-Place . The bread Hall was demolished in 1512-13 and replaced by a large building was the name of the King's House (La Maison du Roi).  In the course of the 16th century many of the houses are built with new facades in Renaissance or Baroque-style.

On 14 August 1695 Louis XIV of France ordered Marshal Villeroy to bombard the City of Brussels as a reprisal following the destruction of French coastal towns and ports by Dutch and English warships. Since the Dutch and English troops were on campaign at Namur, a French army of 70,000 men was able to place its considerable artillery on the Scheut heights, from where 3000 bombs and 1200 incendiary shells rained down on the heart of the city. By the evening of 15 August only the City Hall, the King's House, and a few house walls were still standing in the Grand-Place.

Despite the seriousness of the bombing, the reconstruction quickly, thanks to the action of the municipality and the generous support of other cities and provinces. In a remarkable ordinance issued in 1697 by the city magistrate, all proposals for the reconstruction of facades had to be submitted to the authorities for approval, so that for the preservation of the harmony of the square. In four years time the Grand-Place was fully restored to the original layout and design. The opportunity was simultaneously to widen and turn some of the streets leading to the square. The Cloth Hall, which had been reduced to ruins, was replaced shortly thereafter by the south wing of the Town Hall.

Source:whc/unesco