The "Grote Markt" or "Grand Place" is one of the most beautiful squares of Europe and the main tourist attraction of Brussels.
From the 14th century on rich patrician families and guilds built stone houses that replaced the modest wooden houses. The market turned into the main commercial and political centre of the city. The town hall (statue on the left of the photo) was built from 1402 till 1455.
On August the 13th 1695 the square was bombed to ruins by order of Louis XIV of France (a revenge for of a lost battle in Namur.
Between 1695 and 1700 the guilds rebuilt all the houses. Also the destroyed town hall was rebuilt.
Karel Buls, mayor of Brussels ordered that the houses of the Grote Markt had to be preserved in their original style.
Thanks to GregR for pointing this one out.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Brussels - Market Square - Brussel - Grote Markt
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunrise above the inner circular runway of Brussels
View on the rushing traffic early in the morning on the inner ring of Brussels.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Brussels, Basilica of Koekelberg
The basilica of the Sacred Heart (or basilica of Koekelberg), one of the biggest churches in the world (view taken on the Nieuwstraat / Rogierplein).
It was built to remember the 75th anniversary of the Belgian independence. In 1905 king Leopold II laid the first stone. The initial plans of architect Langerock to built a gigantic neo-gothic church were stopped at the beginning of World War I. In 1919 the construction continues but with another architect (Van Huffel) and modern plans. The church was finished in the late 1960's.
The interior decoration is in 1930's art deco style. Since 1997 visitors can climb into the dome from where you have a beautiful panorama over Brussels and the surrounding area.
