Flower carpet in the Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium
by Neale And Judith Clark
Title
Flower carpet in the Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium
Artist
Neale And Judith Clark
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Carpet of flowers - Brussels Grand Place Flower Carpet Brussels Belgium EU Europe
The Grand Place "Grand Square" or Grote Markt or "Grand Market" is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city's Town Hall, and the King's House or Breadhouse (French: Maison du Roi, Dutch: Broodhuis) building containing the Brussels City Museum. The square measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft).
The Grand Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It is also considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998
The Grand Place continued to serve as a market until 19 November 1959, and it is still called the Grote Markt ("Grand Market") in Dutch. Neighbouring streets still reflect the area's origins, named after the sellers of butter, cheese, herring, coal, and so on. In 1979, the Grand Place was bombed. In 1990, the square was pedestrianised and it is currently part of a large pedestrian zone in the centre of Brussels.
The Grand Place was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. The place is now primarily an important tourist attraction. A number of guild houses have been converted into shops, terraced restaurants and brasseries. Notable institutions include Godiva Chocolatier and the Maison Dandoy speculoos confectionery. One of the houses owned by the brewers' guild is home to a brewers' museum.
The Grand Place was voted the most beautiful square in Europe in 2010.
The Town Hall (French: Hôtel de Ville, Dutch: Stadhuis) is the central edifice on the Grand Place. It was built in several stages between 1401 and 1455 and is also the square's only remaining medieval building. The architect and designer is probably Jean Bornoy with whom Jacob van Thienen collaborated. The young Duke Charles the Bold laid the first stone of the west wing in 1444. The architect of this part of the building is unknown. Historians think that it could be William (Willem) de Voghel who was the architect of the city of Brussels in 1452, and who was also, at that time, the designer of the Aula Magna at the Palace of Coudenberg. The 96-metre-high (315 ft) tower in Brabantine Gothic style is the work of the architect Jan van Ruysbroek. At its summit, stands a 5-metre-tall (16 ft) gilt metal statue of Saint Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, slaying a dragon or demon.
The Town Hall is asymmetrical, since the tower is not exactly in the middle of the building and the left part and the right part are not identical (although they seem at first sight). According to a legend, the architect of the building, upon discovering this "error", leapt to his death from the tower. More likely, the asymmetry of the Town Hall was an accepted consequence of the scattered construction history and space constraints.
Every two years in August, an enormous flower carpet is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colourful begonias are set up in patterns, and the display covers a full 24 by 77 metres (79 by 253 ft), for area total of 1,800 m2 (19,000 sq ft). The first flower carpet was made in 1971, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued, with the flower carpet attracting a large number of tourists
Alamy reference CE8DPP
Uploaded
January 29th, 2020
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