This was built in 1652-1653 by Julien Destrée at the request of the Lille businessmen who wanted a Stock Exchange to rival that of Holland. It's made out of 24 dormer windowed houses set out around a rectangular courtyard which acted as a centre for the transactions and today houses second-hand booksellers. As regards the decorative richness of the facades this is due to the architect, a sculptor of wood, who sculpted away to his heart's content.