The Most Beautiful Square in the World

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is the most beautiful square in the world?” In answer to that question, some mention Red Square in Moscow, whilst others point to St Mark’s Square in Venice. However, many say it is the Grand Place of Brussels. But why so?

Well, many people have described their experience with the Grand Place as being “love at first sight”. Love is the inevitable result of seeing the Grand Place appear suddenly before your eyes in all its splendour. To get the full effect, simply make your triumphal entrance from one of the six adjoining side streets belonging to the Ilot Sacré, the historical centre of Brussels.

Maybe the most surprising thing about the Grand Place is the harmony of its dissimilar elements, making components work that wouldn’t elsewhere. The grand City Hall is not symmetrical, for example, since to the left of its gothic campanile there are eleven arches, while there are only seven on the right. The legend is that the architect who constructed it threw himself from the top of the tower upon realising his error, but the most mystical say that it has to do with an alchemist’s symbol. Similar legends apply to other elements of the square, perhaps trying to find the reasons for its magnetism.

Different among themselves, but magnificent together, there are also the six façades of the ancient guild houses (bakers, oil vendors, woodworkers, coopers, boatmen, and haberdashers). Each building tries to express its personality with a different style, giving rise to a picturesque and eclectic alchemy of forms. Thanks to their marked verticality, though, the trade houses succeed in harmonizing perfectly with the gothic language of the City Hall.

Once the initial emotion has passed, the gaze starts to lose itself among the infinite details of a true universe of stone: gargoyles, eagles, lions, sculptures of heroes, gods, beautiful women, dukes, saints, pinnacles, florid balconies, and a succession of decorative details that almost comprise an architectural lesson in themselves.

It isn’t difficult to feel as if you are in a theatre or on a film set. The old cobblestones help to create a surreal atmosphere, equal to the legends and stories about the square that swarm throughout the city.

But when is the best time to visit? Some assert that it is at night, when the lamps cause the beauty of the buildings to stand out, while others find it more beautiful in the morning, when the traditional flower markets are set up. Without a doubt, though, the very best time to visit the Grand Place is when it is decorated every two years with a carpet of more than 800,000 begonias. The city hosts thousands of visitors for the event, so reserve well in advance when visiting this magical festival, since tours and hotels Brussels can often be full during it.

About the Author

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Author (pbuchanan). Submitted on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 Time: 4:50 PM

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