The Grande Place

 In Arras, the centre of the town is marked by two large squares, the Grande Place and the Place des Héros, also called the Petite Place, with the Musee des beaux arts d Arras occupying a pride of place. This area is surrounded by buildings largely restored to their pre-war World War I conditions. Most  important among these is the Cathedral. The original cathedral of Arras, constructed between 1030 and 1396, was one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in northern France. It was destroyed  during the French Revolution. The abbey's church was demolished and rebuilt in fashionable classical style in 1833, and now serves as the town's cathedral. The design was chosen by the one-time Abbot of St Vaast. It has a huge underground structure, cellar, which is nearly 12 feet deep at some places and used as a storage for grains and wine in medieval period by the merchants. During World war one the British troops also stayed in these underground passages and had constructed a hospital and infirmary.