At the Brussels train station we had a couple of hours between trains and decided to go downtown and see The Grand Place. The first thing we noticed was the landscape, the city is built on rolling hills, the cab ride was like being on a roller coaster. Very narrow streets, the varied terrain and fast drivers made it an exciting trip.
The Grand Place is just that, Grand! It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is breathtaking, opulent, old world elegance at it's best. It is very difficult to photograph because of the sheer size of the square and the sizes of the buildings. The buildings are covered in gold leaf, making them shine in the afternoon sun, very pretty.
Just at the edge of the square was the Hard Rock Cafe (far left in the picture). We had to drop in and get a pin for ourselves and for a close friend. It is located in a historic building and with little advertising showing, it blends into the square quite nicely.
This is The House of the Dukes. Kind of odd, the General Lee was not parked outside
No, no no, it's not where Daisy, Luke and Bo Duke live, it's named for the Dukes of Brabants
Over the years many important events happened in this square, some which were tragic, martyrs were burned and royal family members beheaded. The latter lead to the revolt against Spanish rule led by William of Orange.
Everywhere you turned all you saw were incredible old buildings, with detailed facades, spires and
It was an unexpected stop on the way back to Rotterdam and it turned out to be a fantastic experience. We sat in the courtyard and had some lunch while we watched people in the square.
I tried to take a panoramic picture of the square but was not pleased with the result. I think panoramic photography is more suited to landscapes rather than the square corners the of The Grand Place.
TJ in Holland
Whoever named this the Grand Place was making an understatement. I never expected this. I'm so very glad we went.
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