Heroes Square, Historic square in Arras, France

Heroes Square is a rectangular plaza of about 70 ares in central Arras, next to the town hall and its belfry. Its stone-paved surface is enclosed by tall narrow buildings with arcaded ground floors, steep roofs and repeating windows; the far end is closed by a curved row of gabled facades. Volute gables and arcades show Flemish influence.

The square was renamed Place des Héros in 1945 to honor local resistance fighters shot during World War II; before that it was called the Petite Place. The town hall was listed as a historic monument in 1921, and the belfry in 1840. In 2005 the belfry was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List among the belfries of Belgium and France.

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.

Fifty-two facades on the square are listed as historic monuments, with the listings made between 1919 and 1921. The town hall was separately classified in 1921 and the belfry as early as 1840; in 2005 the belfry joined the UNESCO list of belfries of Belgium and France. Scenes from the 2014 films La Liste de mes envies and Pas son genre were shot here.