Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

a por tr ait of bel gium and l uxembourg  33

Antwerp’s Stadhuis (built 1561–4), shows
how Renaissance architecture was
adapted with creative swagger to
produce a Flemish Renaissance
style. This is seen particularly in
the crest of its centrepiece,
with sculpture and gilding
adding flair to the Classical
columns and pediment. Maison St Cyr (see p79),
a private man sion
in Brussels, is an
extravagant example
of Art Nouveau
architecture. Designed
by the 25-year-old
architect Gustave
Strauven and completed
in 1903, its swirling
ironwork is characteristic
of this “new art” that
made no ref erence to
any architectural style
that had come before it.
The Grand Place in Brussels (see p60–61) is lined
with guildhouses that were rebuilt after 1695 in
St-Carolus the Baroque manner. This style was an exuberant
Borromeuskerk elaboration of Renaissance forms.
in Antwerp was the
first Baroque church
in Belgium.
1500 1600 1700 1800 1900
Renaissance Baroque Neo-Classical Eclectic Art Nouveau
1500 1600 1700 1800 1900
Kasteel Ooidonk,
built in 1595 as a The St-Servaasbasiliek at
grand country Grimbergen, built between
residence in Flemish 1660 and 1725, is one of the great
Renaissance style, Baroque churches of Belgium, a
shows Spanish bold, triumphant expression of
influence in its bulb- the Counter-Reformation.
shaped spires.
The Oude Griffie
in Bruges was built in
Renaissance style over
1534–7. Its rectangular
windows and Classical
columns represented a
complete break from
the pointed arches of The 14th-century belfry of Tournai,
the Gothic style.
with a carillon of 43 bells
Belfries
A symbol of civic pride, the
town belfry was used in
medieval times to sound an
alarm bell as well as to mark
the passing of hours. Belfries
are built with spiral staircases
The Théatre that lead up through strong
Royale de la rooms where the city charters
Monnaie in
Brussels, was built were kept, and then to the bell
in Neo-Classical lofts and lookout positions.
style in 1819 and Belgium’s belfries are UNESCO
resembles a World Heritage Sites.
Greek temple.

032-033_EW_Belgium.indd 33 16/10/14 3:35 pm