Markt in Bruges

You're standing on the Markt, the beating heart of Bruges. People have been drawn to this square since the tenth century, and around 1200 it hosted its first international fair. Start by looking south. That's the Belfry, 83 metres tall. In medieval Flanders, a tower like this stood for freedom and wealth: the city kept its charters and its treasury inside. It grew over three centuries, layer by layer, up to the eight-sided top with the carillon. There used to be a wooden spire on top as well, but after it burned down for the second time in 1741, nobody rebuilt it. Above the gate you'll spot a statue of Mary by Lanceloot Blondeel.