Bruges - Halle

The Halle, begun in 1248 and twice enlarged, first in the 14th C. and then again in the 16th C., occupies the south side of the Markt, a large rectangular brick building 85m/278ft long and 43.5m/142ft wide enclosing a picturesque courtyard. It was once Bruges's main market and the city fathers used to promulgate their statutes from the balcony above the entrance, reading them out to the populace assembled beneath.