Located in the historic center of the city, the Grand-Place is the quintessential meeting place of the Belgian capital, as well as offering a breathtaking view of the architecture and history of Brussels.

This wide cobbled esplanade has been the center of the social and political life of Brussels since the 15th century, although its beginnings date back to the 12th century around the constitution of markets. During the Middle Ages, the square was used as a market and meeting place for the merchants of the city, and gradually its present form was forged in the delimitation of its space, which was initially irregular.

Grote Markt is known today for its impressive buildings and Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Neoclassical architecture. Each of the beautiful buildings surrounding the perimeter of the square was built by the various guilds of craftsmen and merchants, after bombardments during the Augsburg League War in the late 17th century destroyed most of the houses, which were built of wood.

Of the various buildings surrounding the square, each richly ornamented and profusely detailed, the Town Hall, the Maison du Roi d'Espagne, the building of the Museum of the City of Brussels and the House of the Dukes of Brabant stand out.

The Town Hall building, located on the north side of the square and also known as Hôtel de Ville, or Stadhuis, is an impressive building in the Gothic style of Brabant, which has a tower 96 meters high and a facade ornamented with statues and sculptures depicting nobles, saints and allegorical figures. At the top of the tower is a five-meter golden statue of the archangel Michael, patron saint of the city.

On the west side of the square is the Maison du Roi d'Espagne, a baroque building that was built in the 17th century. This beautiful building has an impressive facade that is decorated with statues of gods and mythological heroes, as well as a Latin inscription to the glory of King Charles II of Spain, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands. It was the home of the bakers' guild and now houses one of the main cafes in the square.

On the north side of the square stands the building that houses the Museum of the City of Brussels, also known as Maison du Roi, or Broodhuis. Neo-Gothic in style, the building underwent several restorations until its current appearance, dating from the nineteenth century.

The House of the Dukes of Brabant, so called because of the busts of the Dukes of Brabant that adorn its facade, is a group of seven classicist baroque houses grouped behind a monumental single facade that majestically occupies the entire east side of the square.

In addition to its spectacular architecture, the Grand Place hosts a number of cultural events and festivals throughout the year. From the traditional Christmas market to the Belgian Beer Weekend, which takes place in September, or the Ommegang of Brussels held at the end of June; a folkloric and medieval parade that recreates the Joyous Entry of Emperor Charles V and his son, Philip II, into Brussels in 1549.

Likewise, another outstanding spectacle celebrated in the square is the Flower Carpet, a biennial event that weaves a huge tapestry of colorful begonias, like a huge carpet of flowers. This incredible event, held since 1971, has become an outstanding event for the city, leaving an incredible stamp of thousands of flowers forming a colorful carpet surrounded by the intricate Gothic and Baroque architecture of the buildings in the square.

The beautiful square, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998, also has a number of legendary gastronomic establishments, such as the Café Le Roy d'Espagne, which dates back to the 18th century, as well as a wide range of restaurants and other types of establishments that give life to its buildings.

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