Europe 2007 - Brussels |
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Grand Place-3 viewsGrand Place is Brussels' historic main square. It is often described as "one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in the world". Originally, it is a market where city traders built guildhalls in a medley of styles. After the French destroyed almost everything in 1695, trade guilds were urged to rebuild their halls to designs approved by the town council, resulting the beautiful Baroque style buildings that we see today.
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Rooftops at Grand Place-6 viewsThe rooftops are all decorated with great details.
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Detail of a Rooftop at Grand Place-6 viewsSome rooftops are even adorned with gold plated statues of gods and saints. This particular one is the Baker's guild. Built by Jean Cosyns. Topped with a statue of Fame blowing a horn. it also features statues of the six items needed to make bread: Energy, Grain, Wind, Fire, Water, and Prudence.
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Finger pointing-7 viewsIf you look more closely at the rooftops, we will see a lot of finger pointing among the status. It is believed that these statues were having some sort of council meeting and one of the participants farted. Then, people tried to shift the blame by finger pointing at one another. And the culpit is...
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The Culpit is...-6 viewsHim! I guess silence is acceptance afterall.
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La Maison du Roi (The King's House)-5 viewsDespite its name, no king has ever lived here. The building was used as a temporary jailhouse and a tax office. It is now a museum that houses many paintings, tapestries and a collection of around 650 costumes created for the Manneken Pis.
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L'Ange -5 viewsL'Ange (The Angel) is one of the guild houses in the Grand Place.
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L'Ange-11 viewsMy mom and my sister standing right in front of L'Ange. It has now been transformed to an attractive restaurant decorated with bright patio umbrellas.
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L'Ange-8 viewsMy sister and I standing right in front of L'Ange.
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La Maison des Ducs de Brabant-6 viewsLa Maison des Ducs de Brabant was designed by Guillaume de Bruyn and consists of six former guildhalls.
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Detail of La Maison des Ducs de Brabant-9 views
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Le Cygne-6 viewsLe Cygne (The Swan) is the Butcher's guild. Built by Antoon Pastorana. This is where Karl Marx spent much of his time in exile. It is also where the Belgian Worker's Party was born. Now it is the home to a high-price restaurant catering to the types of people Karl Marx hated.
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