The Markt is a broad, handsome square at the heart of Oudenaarde, and the town hall on its northern edge is one of the finest pieces of Gothic civic architecture in Flanders. The square is the natural starting and finishing point for any visit to the town — the two museums in the Stadhuis face it directly, and the main cafes and restaurants are arrayed around it.
On weekday mornings the square is quiet enough to appreciate the architecture at leisure. On race weekends in April it becomes the focal point for Tour of Flanders celebrations, with team presentations, broadcasts, and the dense, convivial crowd that Flemish cycling draws. The combination of the Gothic building and the cycling culture gives the Markt a character that feels genuinely local rather than tourist-engineered.