Page 64 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

62  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

1 Musée du
Costume et
de la Dentelle
Rue de la Violette 12, 1000 BRU.
City Map 2 D3. Tel (02) 2134450.
@ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 71, 86, 95.
q Bourse, Gare Centrale. v 3, 4,
31, 32. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun.
Closed Mon & public holidays. &
7 8 on request, call (02) 2794355.
∑ museeducostumeetdela
dentelle.be
Located within two gabled
18th-century houses is a museum
focusing on one of Brussels’s
most successful exports – lace.
The intricate skill employed by
Belgian lacemakers has played
a vital economic role in the city Intricate carving on the towering spire and façade of the Maison du Roi
since the 17th century, and the
collection explains the history Place. It was built between 3 Maison du Roi
of this delicate craft.The second 1402 and 1455, with the Grand Place, 1000 BRU. City Map 2
floor houses a small, carefully spire designed by Jan van D3. Tel (02) 2794350. @ 29, 38, 46, 47,
stored collection of antique lace, Ruysbroeck. During the French 48, 60, 63, 65, 66, 71, 95. q Bourse, De
demonstrating the various bombardment of 1695 (see p46), Brouckère, Gare Centrale. v 3, 4, 31,
schools of lacemaking from most of the building was 32. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun (to
France, Flanders and Italy. The demolished, but the spire 8pm Thu). & = ∑ brussels.be
museum also displays temporary survived, in spite of being
exhibitions on contemporary the target of French cannons. Standing on the Grand Place
textiles and fashion. The town hall was rebuilt along opposite the Hôtel de Ville, the
Neo-Classical lines and the Maison du Roi (literally, King’s
grand public rooms are a House, as the site was once
2 Hôtel de Ville mixture of the 18th-century the residence of the Spanish
palatial and 19th-century Neo- monarchs) is another successful
Grand Place, 1000 BRU.
City Map 2 D3. Tel (02) 2792343. @ 29, Gothic styles. The exterior, with venture in the 19th-century
38, 46, 48, 63, 71, 86, 95. q Bourse, De its ranks of statues, dates mainly Neo-Gothic style. Built in the
Brouckère, Gare Centrale. v 3, 4, 31, from the 19th century. 1870s, it was based on etchings
32, 55, 81. Closed election days. & The building is still used as a of a 16th-century predecessor
8 Apr–Sep: 3:15pm Tue & Wed, town hall and for civic func tions. that had served as the Royal
10:45am & 12:15pm Sun; Oct–Mar: Highlights include the fine Court of Assizes. It now houses
3:15pm Tue & Wed (English); also 18th-century tapestries of the Musée de la Ville de
offered in French and Dutch. 7 the Alderman’s Room, the Bruxelles (Museum of the City
∑ visitbrussels.be elaborate Council Chamber of Brussels), which includes a
and the Neo-Gothic Wedding fine collection of the historic
With its delicate spire soaring to Room. Paintings show the River crafts made in the city such as
a gilded statue of St Michael at a Senne flowing sluggishly tapestry, retables (intri cately
height of 96 m (315 ft), Brussels’ through the city, before it was carved and decorated altar-
town hall is a city landmark, and covered over in the interests pieces), silverware and
one of the gems of the Grand of public health in the 1860s. porcelain, as well as paintings
and sculptures. There is also
a good section on the history
and development of Brussels,
brought alive by scale mod els,
paintings and artifacts. However,
this museum’s most famous
attraction is the splen did
collection of outfits made for
the Manneken-Pis (see p64). On
view is a large selection of the
815 carefully tailored costumes
– national, histori cal, military,
trades men’s clothing and even
Luxurious furnishings in the Wedding Room at the Hôtel de Ville a sub-aqua wetsuit – each one
For hotels and restaurants see p266 and pp280–83

062-063_EW_Belgium.indd 62 18/10/16 3:01 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm