Kortrijk - Town Hall

(Local Name: Stadhuis) In the northwest corner of the market is the Gothic stadhuis (town hall), built 1418-1420, enlarged in the 16th and 19th C. and restored in 1962. The facade is decorated with statues of the Counts of Flanders. In the historic Schepenzal on the ground floor is a magnificent Gothic fireplace (1527) with statues of the Virgin, local saints and allegorical scenes of justice. A similar fine fireplace adorns the old council chamber upstairs; depicted are Charles V in the center, the Vices and expressive scenes on the theme "the unholy influence of women on men" with a representation of Aristoteles and a woman riding on his back. Two maps of Kortrijk and the surroundings from 1641 hang on the walls of the hall.