Grand’ Place (Central Square)

Select from the following attraction(s).

Description: The Grand’ Place has been at the heart of Brussels’ life since the 11th century. Having been almost totally destroyed by the French bombardment ordered by Louis XIV in 1695, it was later rebuilt in its original architectural style by various workers’ guilds. The splendid neo-Gothic and Baroque houses that surround the cobbled square (which is about the size of a football pitch) once housed the headquarters of corporations of artists, merchants and tailors; the City of Brussels Museum (tel: (02) 279 4355) in the former Maison du Roi (King’s Residence) allows visitors to explore the city’s illustrious trading history. Other buildings in the Grand’ Place which provide insights into Brussels’ traditions are the Town Hall (tel: (02) 279 4365), the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (tel: (02) 514 2048) and the Museum of Brewing (tel: (02) 511 4987). Many of the houses were given names – for example, numbers 26 and 27 are called Le Pigeon (The Pigeon), and were once the residence of French novelist Victor Hugo during his exile in Brussels.

Contact Addresses: Office de Tourisme et d’Information de Bruxelles, Hôtel de Ville, Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (02) 513 8940. Fax: (02) 513 8320. E-mail: tourism.brussels@tib.be
Website: www.belgium-tourism.org

Transportation: Air: Brussels Airport. Rail: Train: Bruxelles Centrale Station. Underground: Bourse, De Brouckère, Gare Centrale. Tram: 23, 52, 55, 56 or 81. Road: Bus: 29, 34, 47, 48, 60, 63, 65, 66, 71, 95 or 96.

Opening Times: Brussels Town Hall: Guided tours Tues and Wed at 1130 and 1315 only (Apr-Sep); Tues, Wed and Sun at various times between 1130-1515 (Oct-Mar). City of Brussels Museum: Tues-Fri 1000-1700 (Apr-Sep); Tues-Fri 1000-1600 (Oct-Mar). Museum of Brewing: Daily 1000-1700. Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate: Tues-Sun 1000-1700.

Admission Fees: Brussels Town Hall: EUR2.48/BFr100. City of Brussels Museum: EUR2.48/BFr100. Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate: EUR4.96/BFr200 (adult), free (child under 12). Museum of Brewing: EUR2.48/BFr100.