The Markt is the most imported market square in Bruges. It's located in the heart of the historic city center and has an area of approximately 1 ha. On the south side of the square is one of the most famous monuments of the city, the 12th-century belfry.
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| Picture by Pixabay |
Almost in the middle of the square is the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter De Coninck, two folk heroes from Bruges who played an important role in the Flemish resistance against the French occupation in 1302, during the Battle of the Golden Spurs.
Until the 18th century, this was the place of the Waterhalle, the covered storage area where goods were loaded and unloaded. The canals continued to flow into the city along the Markt. Today, although underground, this is still the case. The square was redesigned in 1995 and since then cars are no longer allowed to park, except taxis and coaches.
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| Picture by Pixabay |
A weekly grocery market is held on Wednesday morning. The square is also regularly used for local and international events. At the end of the year, there is a romantic Christmas market. The square is surrounded by cafés, restaurants, and tourist shops in the historical small houses. Those houses have a typical Flemish building style.