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The Grand Place (French: Grand'Place or Grand Place, Dutch: Grote Markt) is the central market square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guild houses, the city's spectacular town hall and the Breadhouse (Dutch: Broodhuis, French: Maison du Roi). The market square is the most important tourist destination in Brussels.
The town hall was constructed between 1402 and 1455. The original architect was probably Jacob van Thienen. The gothic tower was designed by architect Jan van Ruysbroeck. At the top of the tower stands a statue of St. Michael, the patron of Brussels.
In the 13th century the predecessor of the King's House was a wooden
building where the bakers sold their bread in a covered market: the Dutch
name Broodhuis recalls this function. It was replaced in the 15th century
by a stone building for the administration of the duke of Brabant; when
the duchy fell to the Habsburgs, the Maison du duc became the Maison du
Roi. In 1873, the city entrusted architect Victor Jamaer to restore the
battered structure in neo-gothic style.
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