Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

48  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA

1 Musée du which demonstrates the various
Costume et de schools of lacemaking across
la Dentelle France, Flanders and Italy. The
museum displays temporary
Rue de la Violette 12, 1000 BRU. exhibitions of contemporary
Map 2 D3. @ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 71, 86, textiles and fashion.
95. v 3, 4, 32. Tel (02) 213 4450.
q Gare Centrale. Open 10am–5pm
Tue–Sun. Closed Mon, 1 May, 1 & 11 3 Manneken Pis
Nov, 25 Dec. & 7 8 on request,
call (02) 213 4450. ∑ museedu Rues de l’Etuve & du Chêne, 1000 BRU.
costumeetdeladentelle.be Map 1 C3. @ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 71,
86, 95. v 3, 4, 32. q Gare Centrale.
Found within two 17th-century
gabled houses is the museum A wedding dress at the Musée du Costume An unlikely attraction, this tiny
dedicated to one of Brussels’ et de la Dentelle statue of a young boy barely
most successful exports, Belgian 61 cm (2 ft) high reliev ing
lace (see pp26–7). The intricate collection explains and displays himself into a small pool is as
skill employed by Belgian lace- the history of this delicate craft. much a part of Brussels as the
makers has contributed a vital The second floor houses a Trevi Fountain is part of Rome
economic role in the city since small collection of antique or Trafalgar Square’s proud lions
the 17th century, and the lace, carefully stored in drawers, are of London.

2 Hôtel de Ville
The idea of having a town hall to reflect Brussels’ growth
as a major European trading centre had been under
consideration since the end of the 13th century. It was not A detail of the delicately carved façade with
until 1401 that the first foundation stone was laid and the stone statues
building was finally completed in 1455, emerging as the
finest civic building in the country, a stature it still enjoys.
Jacques van Thienen was commissioned to design the
left wing and belfry of the building, where he used orn ate
columns, sculptures, turrets and arcades. The tower and
spire begun in 1449 by Jan van Ruysbroeck helped seal its
reputation. In 1995, the 1455 statue of the city’s patron saint,
Michael, was restored and it now resides inside the tower;
a copy of the statue sits on top of the tower. Tours
are available of the interior, which contains
18th-century tapestries and works of art.

137 statues
adorn walls
and many
mullioned
windows.

. Aldermen’s Room
Still in use today for the meetings
of the aldermen and mayor of
Brussels, this council chamber
contains a series of 18th-century
tapestries depicting the history of
6th-century King Clovis.

048-049_EW_Brussels.indd 48 10/01/17 10:54 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm