Bruges Hotels Guide: The Markt
The historic commercial centre of Bruges is the Markt - now a large pedestrianised square in the heart of the city. The Belfort and Cloth Hall are perhaps the best known landmarks in the square.
The Provincial Court stands on the North side of the square - an impressive nineteenth century neo gothic building built by the Provincial government. The building stands on the site of the old mediaeval water halls where ship's goods were stored. The Provincial Court is flanked, on the right, by the red brick Post Office and, on the left, by the provincial governor's residence.
On the South side of the square are some mediaeval looking houses, that actually date from the nineteenth century.
The Markt also has several bars and restaurants serving typical Belgian beer and food.
Finally, in the centre of the Markt stand statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck who led the Flemish to victory against the French King in the Battle of Golden Spurs in 1302. The battle takes it's name from the large numbers of spurs taken from the bodies of fallen French knights.
