Page 73 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

BRUSSELS  71

found inspiration for it in
the designs of Classical tem-
ples built for the Egyptian
pharoahs. Unfortunately,
Poelaert died in 1879 while
it was still under con struction.
The Palais de Justice is still
home to the city’s law courts.

k Porte de Hal
Boulevard du Midi, 1000 BRU.
City Map 1 B5. Tel (02) 5341518.
@ 27, 48. q Porte de Hal. v 3, 55,
90. Open 9.30am–5pm Tue–Fri,
10am–5pm Sat & Sun. & 7
∑ kmkg-mrah.be
Statues of Count Egmont and Count Hornes at the Place du Petit Sablon
This impressive bastion is the
of 15th- and 16th-century the 16th-century Belgian artist only surviving gate from the
figures, including those of Pieter Brueghel the Elder (see 14th-century medieval city walls
Renaissance artist Bernard p26) who lived in Rue Haute that once sur rounded Brussels,
van Orley and the Flemish nearby, and is buried here. and is a vivid indi cator of their
map-maker Gerhard Mercator, Rue Haute leads through the colos sal scale. The walls were
whose 16th-century projection traditionally working-class and pulled down in the 18th century,
of the world is the basis of independent-minded dis trict but their pentagon-shaped path
most modern maps. known as Les Marolles. The is now occupied by the inner
area was home to crafts men ring road and so is still clearly
h Notre-Dame de and weavers, and street names visible on maps. The Porte de Hal
(the gate on the road towards
such as Rue des Brodeurs
la Chapelle (Embroiderers’ Street) and Rue Halle or Hal) survived because
des Charpentiers (Carpenters’ it was used as a prison. It was
Place de la Chapelle 1, 1000 BRU.
City Map 1 C4. Tel (02) 5383087. Street) reflect the district’s heavily restored in the 1860s
@ 27, 48, 95. q Gare Centrale, artisanal history. when medieval heritage was
Anneessens. v 3, 4, 31, 32. Today, the area is known for once again cher ished. Under
Open 9am–7pm daily. 5 4pm Sat, its fine Flea Market in the Place the direction of the Musées
8pm Sun. Flea Market: Place du Jeu de du Jeu de Balle, with the biggest Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire (see
Balle. Open mornings daily. and best markets held on p81), it now presents a perm-
Sundays. These sell almost anent collec tion of armour and
In 1134, Duke Godefroid I anything from junk to pre-war weapons, a historical account of
decided to build a chapel collector’s items. the guilds of Brussels and some
outside the city’s walls. This temp orary exhibitions. There is
quickly became a market also a walkway on the ram parts
church, serv ing the many j Palais de Justice which offers fine views.
craftsmen who lived nearby. By Place Poelaert 1, 1000 BRU.
1210, it had become so popular City Map 1 C5. Tel (02) 5086578.
that it was made the parish @ 34. q Louise. v 91, 92, 93, 94.
church. In 1250, it became truly Open 8am–5pm Mon–Fri. Closed Jul
famous when a donation of five & public holidays. 8 on request. 7
pieces of the True Cross turned
the church into a pilgrimage site. Dominating the Brussels
The majority of the original skyline, the Palais de Justice
Romanesque church was des- can be seen from almost any
troyed by fire in 1405. When vantage point in the city. Of
rebuilding began in 1421, it all the ambitious projects of
was in a Gothic style typical King Leopold II, this was
of 15th-century Brabant perhaps the grandest. It
architecture. The Baroque bell occupies an area larger than
tower was added after the St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and
French bombard ment in 1695 was one of the world’s most
(see p46). Monstrous gargoyles impressive 19th-century
peer down from the exterior buildings. It was built between
walls, while inside, a chapel 1866 and 1883 by Belgian The imposing bulk of Porte de Hal, evoking
and plaque commem orate architect Joseph Poelaert who Brussels’s medieval past

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