Market Square

The market area a priori cannot be ignored. Its main decoration is the Belfort Tower, the roll of which has already reached almost one meter. From a close distance, this is, of course, imperceptible, but it is worth looking at the tower from a distance, how its appearance really amazes. Firstly, its unique architectural composition, and secondly, the level of inclination, which is about to catch up with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

After the first wooden tower burned down, and with it the treasury, merchants built a stone tower in its place. Here they also placed a watch, equipping a bell tower, thereby increasing the fire safety of the market square. In the XIII century Bruges had access to the seaport, so the concentration of trade was noted here. Belfort was a kind of governing body, there were officials who proclaimed their laws to honest people from the balcony. Later, a statue of the Mother of God was installed over this balcony.

The market square is also decorated with buildings such as the government committee of Flanders - this Gothic-style structure appeared here in the XIX century. The houses of guild members or as they are called here “cloth rows” are colored buildings with a kind of stepped architecture. The House of Kranenburg, which contained as prisoners the Count of Brabant, the King of Germany and the Duke of Burgundy during the uprising of the inhabitants of Bruges in the XV century.