Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

50  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA

4 Notre-Dame de
la Chapelle
Place de la Chapelle 1, 1000 BRU.
Map 1 C4. Tel (02) 538 3087. @ 27,
48, 95. v 3, 4, 32. q Anneessens,
Centrale. Open 9am–7pm daily;
Mass 4pm Sat, 8am, 9:30am, 11am,
5:30pm Sun.
In 1134, King Godefroid I
decided to build a chapel
outside the city walls. It quickly
became a market church, serv­
ing the many craftsmen living
nearby. In 1210, its popularity
was such that it was made a
parish church, but it wasn’t Items for sale at the daily flea market in the Quartier Marolles
until 1250, when a royal
donation of five pieces of the p20), who is buried here.The stone gateway of the now­
True Cross turned the church memorial plaque was made by demolished outer city walls.
into a pilgrimage site, that it Pieter’s son, Jan. Looming over the Marolles is
attracted real fame. the imposing Palais de Justice
Originally built in Roman­ (see p73), which has hilltop
esque style, the majority of 5 Quartier Marolles views of the area west of the
the church was destroyed by Map 1 C5. @ 27, 48. v 3, 4, 51, 92, city, including the 1958 Atom­
fire in 1405. Rebuilding began 94, 97. q Louise, Porte de Hal. ium (see p91) and the Basilique
in 1421 in a Gothic style typical Sacré­Coeur (see p89).
of 15th­century Brabant archi­ Known colloquially as “Les
tecture, including gables deco­ Marolles”, this quarter of Brussels
rated with finials and interior is traditionally working class.
capitals decorated with cab­ Situated between the two city
bage leaves at the base. The walls, the area was home to
Bishop of Cambrai consecrated weavers and craftsmen. Street
the new church in 1434. names of the district, such as
One of the most striking Rue des Brodeurs (Embroiderers’
features of the exterior are the St) and Rue des Charpentiers
monstrously lifelike gargoyles – (Carpenters’ St), reflect its
a representation of evil outside artisanal history.
the sacred interior. The Baroque Today, the area is best known
bell tower was added after the for its fine daily flea market,
1695 bombard ment by the held in the Place du Jeu de
French (see p36). Another Balle. The flea market has been
moving feature is the carved held on this site since 1640.
stone memorial to the Between 7am and 2pm, with
16th­century Belgian artist the biggest and best mar kets
Pieter Brueghel the Elder (see on Thursday and Sunday, almost
anything from junk to pre­war Outdoor tables at restaurants and cafés
collector’s items can be found close to Halles St-Géry
among the stalls.
Shopping of a different kind 6 Halles St-Géry
is on offer on nearby Rue Haute, Place St­Géry 23, 1000 BRU. Map 1 C2.
an ancient Roman road. A @ 47, 86, 88, 95. v 3, 4, 32, 51.
shopping district since the 19th q De Brouckère.
century, it is still popular with
arty types with its spe cialist In many ways, St­Géry can be
stores, and interior and antique considered the birthplace of the
shops. The street has a long city. A chapel to Saint Géry was
artistic history, too – the elegant built in the 6th century, then in
red­brick house at No. 132 was AD 977 a fortress took over the
home to Pieter Brueghel the site. A 16th­century church
Elder and the sculptor Auguste followed and occu pied the
Rodin had a studio at No. 224. location until the 18th century.
The elegant interior of At the southern end of Rue In 1881, a covered meat market
Notre-Dame de la Chapelle Haute is Porte de Hal, the was erected in Neo­Renaissance

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