Grote+Markt+(Bruges)

The Grote Markt in Bruges is located in the heart of the city. Historical highlights are the Provincial Court and the twelfth-century belfry. In 1995, it was renovated and has and parking so it is traffic free this makes it easier to look at all the sights.

The belfry is a medieval bell tower. The tower is one of the city's most prominent symbols in the Grote Markt. The belfry used to be a housed treasury and municipal archives, it was also an observation tower. The history behind the building is that it was added when Bruges was proposing an important centre of Flemish clothing industry. In 1280, there was a fire that caused the archives to be lost forever. However, that is not the last time the belfry saw fire in the year 1493 one of the spires caught fire from a lightning strike that reduced it to ashes.

The Provincial Court is a neogothical building in the heart of the Grote Markt. The Court was built as a center point for the port of Bruges. The central meeting room has ten sculptures of royalty and mural paintings of famous people from Wales. Decorations are made by famous from stained glass to the chandeliers.

The Grote Markt is over been where it is for a long time and has changed a lot. The belfry has changed after it had gotten burnt down twice. The Provincial Court is a masterpiece. The Markt is very crowded but there's not much traffic.