Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGhTS
On and near Grand Place
Brussels' Grand Place area sights, listed briefly below, are described
in more detail in the J Grand Place Walk on page 397.
sss Grand Place —Brussels' main square, aptly called Grand
Place (grahn plahs, “Grote Markt” in Flemish), is the heart of the
old town and Brussels' greatest sight. Any time of day, it's worth
swinging by to see what's going on. Concerts, f lower markets,
sound-and-light shows, endless people-watching—it entertains
(as do the streets around it). The museums on the square are well-
advertised, but dull.
To w in H a l l (Hôtel de Ville), with the tallest spire, is the
square's centerpiece, but its interior is no big deal. Admission is
only possible with a 40-minute English tour, which also covers city
history and the building's tapestries and architecture (€3, Tue-Wed
at 15:15, Sun at 10:45 and 12:15, no Sun tours Oct-March). Only 25
people are allowed per tour; assure a spot by buying tickets from
the guide exactly 40 minutes before the tour starts (in the court-
yard behind the spire).
he City Museum (Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles) is opposite
Town Hall in an 1875 Neo-Gothic building called the Maison du
Roi, or “King's House” (but no king ever lived here). The top floor
displays a chronological history of the city and an enjoyable room
full of costumes dampened by the Manneken-Pis statue (see page
390). An engrossing video of tourist reactions to the statue plays
constantly. The middle floor features maps and models of 13th-
and 17th-century Brussels, and the bottom floor has tapestries and
paintings (€3, Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mon, Grand Place,
tel. 02-279-4350). For local history, the best choice is not this
museum—but the BELvue Museum (see page 391).
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