The larger of Arras's two main squares, lined with 155 identical Flemish baroque facades dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The uniformity is deliberate — after the First World War the city was rebuilt to a consistent design, using historical records to reproduce what had stood before. Sit at one of the terrace cafes in the evening and the effect is remarkable: the proportions are perfect, the stone glows amber, and the scale feels just right for a provincial capital.
The arcades running the length of both ground-floor frontages are perfect for sheltering from the rain while still feeling part of the square. On Saturday mornings the square hosts one of the largest markets in northern France. The two squares — Grand'Place and Place des Héros — are connected at their narrow ends and together form a single complex that is best understood by walking the full circuit.