Kortrijk City Hall, Medieval town hall at Grote Markt, Belgium
Kortrijk City Hall is an administrative building on Grote Markt square with Gothic and Renaissance design elements, featuring statues of Counts of Flanders and nine decorated dormers on its roofline. Below ground, the building contains a series of connected cellars that extend beneath the square.
After the original building was destroyed by French forces, this structure was constructed around 1520 to restore the city's administrative center. Major renovations in the early 1600s expanded its spaces and reinforced its role as the seat of municipal government.
The Aldermen's Hall contains a Gothic fireplace mantelpiece with stone carvings depicting biblical scenes that carry meanings about justice and law. These artworks tell stories through their detailed stonework that held significance for the community of their time.
The building functions as a working municipal office where visitors can access services at counters, and guided tours are available to explore the historical interior spaces. It is best to check ahead before visiting to understand tour availability and current opening times.
Beneath the building lay six connected cellars that operated as a tavern called De Raadskelder until 2006, serving the local community as a gathering place for centuries. The largest of these underground rooms measured approximately 21 by 10 meters and shows how much importance these hidden spaces held in local life.
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