Point of interest
Grote Markt and the guild houses
in Antwerp, Belgium
The city's grand central square, ringed by ornate Renaissance guild houses and crowned by the elaborate Brabo fountain and Renaissance city hall.
Where it is
The Grote Markt is the triangular main square in the historic centre, right beside the Cathedral of Our Lady and a short walk from the bank of the Scheldt.
Address: Great Market Square, 2000 Antwerp
What it is
At its centre stands Jef Lambeaux's Brabo Fountain, illustrating the legend of the severed giant's hand that gave the city its name. With its stepped gables, cafés and terraces, the Grote Markt is the liveliest meeting point in the old town and an ideal place to start exploring.
History
The square rose to prominence in the 16th century as the representative heart of wealthy mercantile Antwerp. Around it stand the ornate guild houses in Flemish Renaissance and Mannerist style, many faithfully rebuilt in the 19th century after fires and war, together with the monumental City Hall (Stadhuis) designed by Cornelis Floris in the 1560s.