Rue du Marché aux Fromages

The (French, ) or (Dutch), meaning "Cheese Market Street", now also known by its nickname the or ("Pitta Street"), is a historic street in central Brussels, Belgium, near the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). It is lined with numerous pitta bars, pizzerias and cocktail bars.

Two blind alleys come from this street: the / (currently the /), and the / (now called the /).

Toponymy The / ("Cheese Market Street") used to be called the Smaelbeek in the 13th century. Then, it was renamed the / ("Coffin Street") before being changed back to its current name. It is today sometimes known under the moniker the / ("Pitta Street") due to the Greek restaurants found along it.

History Until the 16th century, cheese, onions and figs were traded on an open-air marketplace called the (meaning "Cheese Market" in Old Dutch). The oldest place-name would have been Smaelbeek (1234), after the artificial stream which, according to historians, flowed there. Nowadays, it thought to be more likely that the stream ran through the block between the Rue du Marché aux Fromages and the / and that the Smaelbeek referred to the latter street.

The market stalls apparently hindered the shops on the street. In 1509, the authorities had posts with the Burgundian Cross placed to limit their space. In 1615, butchers were allowed to participate in the market, with fines being imposed as a precaution against insults or fights. Carpenters and wood turners took over in the 18th century. Their chairs, ladders and coffins on display gave the street all kinds of nicknames, such as Leerestroet and Kistenstroet. The latter name was still in use in 1900, long after the coffins had been banned from the street.

In the 1970s, the street did not have a great reputation, with quite a few nightclubs and drugs. Greek immigrants brought about a revival by opening pitta bars, a concept that Belgians were completely unfamiliar with at the time. The first was Athens in 1979. By cooping up together, they were better able to attract the attention of tourists. In the 1990s, they invested in visual Hellenisation of the street. In order to respect the rules of the UNESCO zone, all neon signs, signboards, columns and caryatids were removed in 2012.

Notable houses The street has many preserved old houses, most of which were rebuilt after the bombardment of Brussels in 1695. Some underwent major changes in the 19th century but without losing their original appearance. Notable examples include: or ("The Seahorse"). Currently no. 1, at the corner of the /. It has a door framing in the Louis XV style. or ("The Three Pages"). Currently no. 5–7. It featured a façade that was recently stripped. or ("The Iron Dragon"). Currently no. 15–17. Large house built in 1709 for Jean-Baptiste van Dievoet (1663–1751) and located on the right of the Impasse du Dragon.The construction of this House provoked a lawsuit with his neighbour Mr Gérard Van Arckel due to a crack that appeared in his wall. (Archives Ville de Bruxelles, procès 4882. Procès, 1701-1710. Jan Baptista Van Dievoet contre Gérard Van Arckel. – 1710). This is told in : Remarques sur le commentaire de Me Louis Le Grand, sur la coutume de Troyes, à l'usage des Pays-Bas Autrichiens et principalement du Duché de Brabant, partie première, Brussels, 1777 : « À quelles reparations est tenus celui, qui en bâtissant dans son propre fond, préjudicie à son voisin. N. Van Divoet faisant rebâtir sa Maison, et ayant fait des fondemens plus profonds que du passé, cela fut cause que le mur de N. Van Arckel, son Voisin, se fendit : Van Arckel le tira en justice, et il fut contraint à réparer la fente au dire des Experts ; mais Van Arckel ne s'étant pas contenté de cela ; le Magistrat de Bruxelles jugea que Van Divoet devoit passer parmi cette réparation, et cette Sentense fut confirmée au Conseil en Janvier 1711. au rapport de M. Farisseau, sous le Greffier Bodry ». In the 18th century, its ground floor featured woodwork with recessed paintings and gilded leathers in the front room towards the street. On the façade hung an iron dragon as an ensign.Archives Générales du Royaume, Wyckboecken de Bruxelles, SMALBEECK WYCK. N° 23: « schoonen grooten nieuwen huijse die den transportant corts naer sijn vercrijge daer op heeft doen maecken alwar tegenwooordigh is uijthanghende den eijseren Draeck gestaen ende geleghen op de Casemerckt....nieuwen grooten huijse genoemt den Eijseren Draeck ende dat met allen de boiseringhen in den selven huijse wesende beneffens de schilderijen in de selve boiseringhen sijnde ende de goude leiren hanghende in de voor camere beneden ter straete alsmeede de schrapprijen staende naghelvast in den voors. huyse » The ground floor was totally transformed in 1882 into two commercial storefronts.Le patrimoine monumental de la Belgique, "Bruxelles. Pentagone", 1B, p. 405 : « R. d. ch. commercial aux devantures jumelées et "classiques" érigées en 1882 ». This house's name finds its origin into the oldest history of Brussels since, according to legend, it is located at the same place where Saint Gaugericus defeated the dragon that was sowing terror on the territory that would become Brussels, and whose lair was located at this location near the Smaelbeek stream.Victor Devogel, Légendes bruxelloises, illustrations de C.-J. Van Landuyt, Bruxelles, p.29 à 36. Voir p. 34: « Un dragon dévastait Bruxelles, ses campagnes, ses bois et ses marais. D'aucuns affirment même que l'allée du Dragon, qui existait autrefois dans notre cité, tirait son nom du séjour qu'y fit cet animal fabuleux. ». No. 19: Considered the smallest house of Brussels, where the Impasse du Dragon starts. or . Currently no. 35, at the corner of the / where it is no. 43. Built in 1697.Le patrimoine monumental de la Belgique, Bruxelles, Pentagone, 1B, Brussels, 1993, p. 24 (rue des Éperonniers).

Rue du Marché aux Fromages

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