- Address: Grote Markt, 1000 Brussel, Belgium
- Phone: +32 2 279 22 11
- Opening: 1420
- Height: 96 m
- Architectural style: Gothic architecture
- Architect: Jacob van Tienen
- Cost of visiting: 3 euros
The capital of Belgium annually attracts tens of thousands of tourists. The starting point of all excursions is the main square of the city - Grand Place , which is considered the most beautiful in all of Europe. In its vicinity there are many monuments of culture and history, for example, the statue of the Manneken Pis , the King's House , and the famous Brussels Town Hall.
Facade of the City Hall of Brussels
The Town Hall in Brussels was built in late Gothic Brabant architectural style and demonstrates majesty, splendor and grace, expressed in dozens of arched windows. The top of the administrative building is crowned by a five-meter weather vane in the form of a statue of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of the city, and at his feet is a defeated demon in a female guise.
The Brussels Town Hall along the entire length is decorated with stone faces of saints, monks and nobles. Medieval masters came to their work with a sense of humor. Here you can see a sleeping Moor with his harem and drunken monks at a feast. True, most of them were destroyed during the hostilities with France.
In 1840, the city administration decided to completely restore the symbol of the city. Sculptors created wonderful statues of the rulers of the Brabant duchy during the period from 580 to 1564, and the builders moved them to the building. A total of 137 unique monuments. The facade of the Town Hall in Brussels is decorated with a lace of stone lace.
What to look inside?
The administrative building is beautiful not only from the outside, but also inside. Anyone can make sure of this. Here there is a luxurious interior, corresponding to the exquisite tastes of the Middle Ages, also the room is richly decorated with gilded mirrors, fine tapestries, sculptures, paintings, wooden carvings.
Inside the Town Hall there is a wedding hall, which provides an opportunity for all newlyweds in pompous and majestic surroundings to cement their alliance. If you go through all the halls of the building, you can go to the balcony, which serves as a viewing platform. From here in August of every even-numbered year one can observe an unusual spectacle: a flower festival is held on the main square of Brussels. The Grand Place is completely covered with a magic carpet of real flowers . The holiday lasts only 3 days, and designers and gardeners prepare for it for a year.
In 1998, the city hall of Brussels, together with the entire main square of the capital, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Currently, the administrative building is the residence of the mayor, here are the sessions of the city council. During these meetings, visits are prohibited. In the rest of the period, the doors of the Brussels City Hall are open to all comers. The ticket price is 3 euros, and the guide is paid extra.
How to get there?
The spire of the main building of the city can be seen from almost all points of Brussels. You can get here on foot, by bike, taxi or any public transport that goes to the center.
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