Grote Markt Brussels

The Grote Markt or Grand Place de Bruxelles is the center of alot of action! We saw a Folklorissimo celebration the day we arrived with lots of food... more

by Joan Carroll

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Dimensions

18.000 x 12.000 inches

Title

Grote Markt Brussels

Artist

Joan Carroll

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

The Grote Markt or Grand Place de Bruxelles is the center of alot of action! We saw a Folklorissimo celebration the day we arrived with lots of food an drink and entertainment. Then after the booths were torn down from that and all cleaned up, they started setting up a huge stage for a concert. In between, everybody but everybody passes through the square! Thousands of tourists and many locals alike. We even saw some university initiation 'thing' one night. The only way to get a picture of the buildings was to come out early in the morning. So this night shot is really taken at about 6 am. The tour book says this is the northeast corner of the square, which in somebody's logic that might be so.On the left side is LeRoi d'Espagne with a gilt bust of Saint Aubert, the patron saint of bakers, over the entrance. There is a huge bust of Charles II of Spain on the second floor. The Grote Markt remains the finest surviving example of Belgium's ornate 17th century architecture. Most of the current buildings date from after 1695 when the former buildings were all destroyed by cannon fire. Trade guilds were urged to rebuild their halls to styles approved by the Town Council, producing the unity of Flemish Baroque buildings found today. Even so, there are enough differences in the buildings to produce a harmonious yet varied appearance.

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October 6th, 2013