At the end of the square, facing the Rue du Nord, is the Old Spanish Guard House, an arcaded building of early 17th century construction. The lateral façade overlooks the Place du Marché-aux-Pommes, in which stands St. Nicolas' Church. Begun in the 14th century, building was continued in the 15th, and completed in the 16th centuries. The church, which has a high, unfinished tower suffered little during the war, although some of the stained-glass was broken.
The door of the Spanish Officers' Pavilion (Sept. 4, 1917).
In the background: The Palais-de-Justice and Hôtel-de-Ville (photos, p. [40].)
In the foreground: Rue de l'Est, by which tourists leave Furnes.
Furnes possesses a number of curious old houses, the most noteworthy of which are the Noble Rose Hostelry, 11, Rue du Nord, near the Grand'Place, and the Pomme d'Or Hostelry in the Grand'Place.
Victor Hugo lived in one of them in August 1837. The "Pomme d'Or" was used as a residence by the Spanish Officers (16th-17th centuries). Rebuilt in the 16th century, the "Noble Rose" was restored shortly before the War; it is now partly destroyed.
Every year, since the 12th century, a famous penitential procession took place at Furnes on the last Sunday in July, when the "Sodalité Brotherhood" performed the "Passion Play" in Flemish.