Brussels. Grand Place. Magnet

Brussels. Grand Place. Travel. Europe. Belgium. Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the Brussels capital region. The name of the city comes from the ancient Dutch words bruoc "swamp" and sella "settlement" and literally means "a village on a swamp". According to legend, Brussels was founded in the VI century by Saint Gagerik (or Saint-Jerry). However, the first mention of the village Bruocsella is found only in 996 in the letter of Otto the Great. From 977 to 979, the Duke of Lower Lorraine, Charles I built a fortress and a chapel on the island on the River Senna, which was the first step in the development of the city. The cathedral was dedicated to St. Gudula, patroness of Belgium. In the XI century, the first city wall was built. The main attractions of the city include: the Grand Place, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, the Atomium and Mini Europe, the Mountain of Arts, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the Royal Palace, the Royal Park and the Palace of Academies and others. Grand Place is a historical square in the centre of Brussels, one of the most important tourist sites of the city. Here are two major attractions - the Town Hall and the Bread House or the King's House. The ensemble of the market square of Brussels is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Grand Place is the central square of the city. It is surrounded by houses built in the XVII century. Each has its own name and each belonged to a certain guild. So, for example, the house "Volchitsa" was occupied by the guild of archers from the bow, the house "Trolley" was built in 1697 by the guild of producers of oils and fats. Some houses, such as "Oak", "Fox", are quite simple architecture. The square also houses the City Hall (town hall), which is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The construction of the Brussels Town Hall was conducted in 3 stages. The left wing, longer, was built in 1402 by Jacob Van Tinen. Right - completed in 1445 by an unknown architect. In 1450 the building was crowned with a 90-metre watch tower with a statue of Archangel Michael - patron of Brussels. Opposite the Town Hall stands the "King's House", where, despite the name, no king has ever lived. Built in the XIII century, the house served alternately as a warehouse for bakers, a tribunal and a prison. In 1873, architect Victor Yamar reconstructed the building in the Gothic style. Today in the "House of the King" is the Municipal Museum.