Arras' two ancient market squares, the Grand' Place and the almost-adjacent, smaller Place des Héros (also known as Petite Place), are surrounded by 17th- and 18th-century Flemish-baroque houses topped by curvaceous 'Dutch' gables. Although the structures vary in decorative detail, their 345 sandstone columns form a common arcade unique in France. The squares, especially handsome at night, are about 600m northwest of the train station.
As picture-perfect as they look today, both squares were heavily damaged during WWI and most of the gorgeous façades had to be reconstructed from scratch.
