4.3 km | 4.6 km-effort
The 'Markt' (or Main Market Square) stretches over about 1 ha. It already drew large numbers of people in the 10th century. Around 1200, the first international market was also held here. Throughout the centuries, the 'Markt' was the place by excellence for major events and celebrations, games and tournaments; it was also there that justice was given.
On the north side of the square, you can see rows of houses with their typical ''dented'' facades. The east side is dominated by the 'Provinciale Hof' (Provincial Court House). In 1787, the old 'Waterhalle' (or ''Market at the water'', a roofed wooden handling and storage place for goods coming by boat from the harbour in Damme, and dating back to the 12th century) was demolished, and replaced by quite luxurious houses, of which the one in the middle was used as from 1850 as the provincial court house. Part of it was destroyed in a major fire in 1878, and replaced, more than ten years later, by a new provincial court house, as well as the mail building adjacent to it.
On the western side, the 'Huis Bouchoute' (Bouchoute House, on the left-hand side of 'Sint-Amandstraat'), with a front wall dating back to the 15th century, is the oldest building on the 'Markt'. In 'Huis Craenenburg', on the right-hand side of 'Sint-Amandsstraat', Maximilian of Austria was held in 1488 by the inhabitants of Bruges. The house used to have a wooden front wall, but this was replaced in 1955 by a new one in neo-gothic style.
On the Southern side of the square towers one of the best-known historical buildings of Bruges, the Belfry, dating back to the 12th century (see further). In the middle of the 'Markt' you find the statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, two popular local figures who played a major role in the fight against the King of France in 1302.
During the period from 1807 and 1810, the 'Markt' was named "Place Napoléon" (Napoleon Square), after what is was called "Grote Markt" (or Main Market Square). The current name was given in 1936. The 'Markt' benefitted from a major uplifting in 1995-'96: since then, car traffic has been forbidden on the square, where only residents, taxi services and tourism vans are still allowed... together of course with the typical horse carts. There is a public market every Wednesday morning, and the 'Markt' is also the place for regular events.
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