The Grand Place

is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse building containing the Museum of the City of Brussels. The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. The building measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft), and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Poetry

The Grand Place is a book of poetry in the open sky. Indeed, many Latin poems decorate the houses of the Grand-Place : these are elegiac poems or very ingenious chronograms which are the work of a brilliant Latin poet of the time Petrus van der Borcht (1676-1739) who died at Neigem. At the same time, in Paris, the poet Santeul had also adorned with Latin distil the fountains of Paris.

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Flower carpet

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 square metres (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.

Monument to Éverard t'Serclaes

The monument to Éverard t'Serclaes is a brass bas-relief carved by the Flemish artist Julien Dillens in 1902. This classified work was placed under the house where Éverard t'Serclaes died of his wounds in 1388. It evokes the liberation of the city of the Count of Flanders by the lord and alderman Éverard t'Serclaes the 24 of October of 1356, that is to say 660 years ago.
Due to the state of the monument regularly touched by tourists, it was decided to put a copy in its place. It was made by the Flemish sculpture workshop Brons Atelier. Copying and restoration of the original and the mock-up cost around 245,000 euros, 80% of which was subsidized by the Region and, for the first time in the City of Brussels, financed by patronage.

Just like the monkey of the grand guard in Mons this statue brings happiness if one touches.

Treasures of Belgium # 5 - The Grand Place of Brussels

The Grand Place

Poetry

Flower carpet

Monument to Éverard t'Serclaes