Heroes Square, Historic square in Arras, France
Heroes Square is a large rectangular plaza in the old town of Arras, lined on all sides by multi-story buildings in Flemish Baroque style. The facades share a common rhythm of arched arcades at ground level, stepped gables above, and rows of tall windows that give the whole space a consistent look.
The square received its current name in 1945 in honor of local resistance fighters killed during World War Two. Before that, the buildings surrounding it had already been rebuilt from scratch after World War One, since the originals were largely destroyed during the fighting.
The square holds a market twice a week, a tradition that goes back to medieval times and draws locals shopping for regional produce and goods. On those days the space transforms into a busy meeting point where the daily life of Arras becomes easy to observe.
The square sits at the heart of the old town and can be reached on foot from most nearby streets without difficulty. Visiting on a market day gives a sense of the space in full use, while quieter days allow a closer look at the architecture.
Although the facades around the square look centuries old, they were actually built in the 1920s and received protected monument status shortly after completion. The reconstruction was so faithful to the original Flemish models that even specialists sometimes need a second look to tell the difference.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
