Of all the pretentious things people say, this one is true: The Grand-Place is the most beautiful square in Europe. The people of Brussels say it, tourists believe it, and even the French have to grudgingly admit their little cousin has shown them up. This modest-sized plaza (360 feet by 223 feet) is surrounded on all sides by some of the most magnificent architecture in the world, and the critical mass casts its spell over those inside. Most of it is Italian Baroque, which was introduced to the region by Pieter Paul Rubens. The Italian style has been uniquely adapted to fit the small plots of land and cramped quarters that are the hallmark of Benelux architecture. The buildings were put up by the guilds in a feverish competition of one-upmanship as they jostled for rank. Today their gilt, carvings, symbols, cherubs, stone garland, caryatids, and standards are still displayed proudly. All of the guild houses have names like "The Wheelbarrow," "King of Spain," and "The Golden Launch." The only guild still in residence is the Brewer's Guild, which is in a building called the "Golden Tree." It distinguishes itself from the others with statues of Charles of Lorraine on horseback, and carvings depicting grape harvest and the picking of hops. Many days there is a street market where people sell various arts and crafts. In the summer these give way to the flower market as the city joins the surrounding hills in breaking into flower. Centuries ago there was a great fire that destroyed much of the city. There is a story that tells of a small boy dropping his pants and doing what he could to help put out the fire. The legend goes on to state that his minor contribution was just enough to keep the fire from taking the beloved city hall. To commemorate the occasion, and unknown sculptor created a fountain of the boy doing his part. The Manneken Pis has since become the most well-known tourist attraction in Belgium. People from around the world bring him costumes to wear, and almost every day there is a new one. His first outfit was given to him in May, 1698 by Maximilian Emmanuel, the Governor General of the Netherlands. Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich are among those who have also donated costumes. On the day you see here, he was in red and yellow archer's clothing. Nearby there is a museum that showcases his hundreds of little outfits. The earliest record of the peeing statue is from a document dated 1377. The statue you see today is a replica of the one made in 1619 by Jerôme Duquesnoy.

The original was taken away by French soldiers in 1747. To make up for this cultural slight, King Louis XV became the first person to donate an outfit made with gold embroidery.

Guild Houses on the Grand-Place

• Amman's Small Bedroom (La Chambrette de l'Amman).
• Fortune (La Fortune): Sculptor's guild.
• The Angel (L'Ange).
• The Ass (L'Ane).
• The Bag (Le Sac): Cabinetmakers and cooper's guild. Built by Antoon Pastorana. Distinguished by it similarity to a wooden cupboard. Above the door is a carving of a man diving into a bag being held open by another man.
• The Fox (Le Renard): Haberdasher's and peddler's guild. Built by Van Nerum and Marc de Vos. Has statues of four robust women who represent the continents of the world. Saint Nicolas graces the peak of this building.
• The Golden Caraval (Chaloupe d'Or): Tailor's guild. Built by G. De Bruyn. The patron saint of sailors, Saint Boniface, is at the top holding a pair of scissors.
• The Golden Launch (Lancement d'Or).
• The Golden Tree (L'Arbre d'Or). Originally had a statue of Maximilian Emmanuel of Bavaria on top. This was replaced by a statue of Charles of Lorraine on horseback when the are became part of the Hapsburg Empire.
• The Hermitage (L'Ermitage): Slate quarry worker's guild.
• The Hill (La Colline): The miller's guild.
• The Holy Beard (Sainte-Barbe).
• The Horn (Le Cornet): Boatmen's guild. Built by Antoine Pastorana. Fittingly enough, the home of the Boatmen's guild is designed to mimic the stern of a Spanish Galleon.
• Joseph and Anne (Joseph et Anne). Le Monto Thabor.
• The King of Spain (Roi d'Espagne): 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.
• The Mole (La Taupe).
• The Oak (Le Chene).
• The Peacock (Le Paon).
• The Rose (La Rose).
• The She-Wolf (La Louve): Archer's guild. Built by Marc de Vos. Has a phoenix at the top to symbolize the building's repeated burnings. Also has figures representing Truth, Falsehood, Peace, and Disorder.
• The Small Fox (Le Petit Renard).
• The Star (L'Etoile). Much to the horror of the rulers of the time, this building was demolished in the 1800's to accommodate the crowds of people flocking to see the Manneken Pis. It was rebuilt with a passageway as a compromise.
• The Stag (Le Cerf).
• The Stock Exchange (La Bourse): Tanner's guild.
• The Swan (Le Cygne) - 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.
• The Tin Pot (Pot d'Etain): Carpenter's guild.
• The Wheelbarrow (La Brouette) - Tallow-dealer's guild. Built by Jean Cosyns. Features a statue of Saint Giles, the patron saint of candlemakers. Saint Giles, patron saint of the "greasers" stands over this house.