L'Arbre d'Or (The Golden Tree), Le Cygne (The Swan), and L'脡toile (The Star), Brussels

Now, let's zoom in on three other show-stealing guild houses in Grand Square: The Golden Tree, The Swan, and The Star鈥攅ach with its own backstory, flair, and photo op.

First up: The Golden Tree, at Number 10. Once the proud headquarters of the Brewers' Guild, this place practically oozes hops and heritage. Rebuilt after the French 鈥渃annon fireworks鈥� in 1695, its Baroque fa莽ade is dripping with gold, grain motifs, and a dramatic statue of Prince Charles of Lorraine (the former governor of the Austrian Netherlands) on horseback. Today, it鈥檚 home to the Belgian Brewers Museum鈥攁 small but mighty exhibit where you can geek out over brewing tools and end with (what else) a beer tasting. Bonus fact: It's still owned by a professional guild, which makes it the overachiever of the square.

Next door, at Number 9, we鈥檝e got The Swan鈥攅legant, mysterious, and with a touch of revolutionary gossip. Built in 1698 and once tied to the butchers' guild (yes, those are ox heads and cleavers on the facade), The Swan pivoted hard in the 1840s to become a political hangout. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels met here, likely arguing over pints, and Brussels is where they penned The Communist Manifesto. The building later gave rise to the Belgian Workers' Party. Today, it鈥檚 a swanky restaurant with chandeliers, foie gras, and just a pinch of proletarian past.

And now, rounding things off with charm and compactness: The Star. Tucked into the corner where Charles Buls Street kisses the Grand Square, this petite beauty stands where a medieval gate once stood. Its most famous feature is the statue of Everard 't Serclaes, a local hero celebrated for liberating Brussels in the 14th century. Reclining under an arcade like a Belgian version of a chill Greek god, he's your go-to for good luck. Rub his golden arm or leg, and you might just find love鈥攐r at least an excuse to come back.

So whether you're sipping history, dining with revolution, or rubbing bronze for romance, these three iconic guild houses prove the Grand Square isn鈥檛 just a square鈥攊t鈥檚 a stage.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Brussels. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: L'Arbre d'Or (The Golden Tree), Le Cygne (The Swan), and L'脡toile (The Star)
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Grand Place Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Brussels, Belgium

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