Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

56  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA

Neo-Classical cinema was become a sanctuary for Afghan
erected with an impressive refugees awaiting regularization.
Art Deco interior. During the The architecture is notable for
1960s, two imposing glass its Flemish Baroque details from
buildings blended the con- the 17th century, especially the
temporary with the classical. onion-shaped turrets and
Today, the varied historic ornamental walls. The nave is
architecture of Place de also Baroque, decorated with
Brouckère enhances one ornate winged cherubs, angels
of the city’s busiest squares, and scrolls. The confessionals are
despite the addit ion of carved with allegorical figures
advertising hoardings. and saints. A more unusual
feature are the aisles, which have
o Eglise St-Jean- been widened to allow more
light in. In the apse is a statue of
Baptiste-au- St John the Baptist. The 1757
Béguinage pulpit is a fine example of
Baroque woodcarving, showing
Nineteenth-century building in Place Place du Béguinage, 1000 BRU. Map St Dominic and a heretic.
de Brouckère 1 C1. Tel (02) 217 8742. @ 47, 88. q
Ste-Catherine. Open 10am–5pm Tue–
i Place de Sat, 10am–8pm Sun. Closed Mon. 7 p Théâtre Royal
Brouckère This stone-clad church was Flamand
consecrated in 1676 around
Map 2 D2. @ 29, 38, 46, 47, 63, 66, 71, Quai au Pierre de Taille 9, 1000 BRU.
86, 88. v 3, 4, 32. q De Brouckère. the long-standing and largest Map 1 C1. Tel (02) 210 1112. @ 47,
béguine community in the 48, 58, 61, 88. v 3, 4, 25, 32, 51, 55.
In 1872, a design competition country, established in 1250. q Rogier, Yser. ∑ kvs.be
was held to encourage the Fields and orchards around the
construction of buildings of site contained cottages and The former quay area of
architectural interest in de houses for up to 1,200 béguine Brussels, on the banks
Brouckère. Twenty winning women, members of a lay of the old River Senne,
applicants were selected and religious order who took up still survives as a reminder
commissioned to give promi- charitable work and enclosed that the city was once a
nence to this Brussels junction. living after widowhood or thriving port. In 1882,
The Parisian contractor Jean- failed marriages. In architect Jean Baes
Baptiste Mosnier was respon- medieval times, the was commis sioned to
sible for taking the original béguines ran a laundry, enlarge one of the
plans through to completion. hospital and windmill for former waterfront
The French influence of the people of the warehouses and
Mosnier and his workers is still city. Still a popu lar then turn it into a
evident on the square. Many place of worship, the theatre – but was
of the buildings were erected church has also in asked to retain
in stone, common in France recent years the original 1780
at the end of the 19th century,
whereas brickwork was more
usual in Brussels. Several
original façades survive today,
including the 1874 Hôtel Conti-
nental by Eugene Carpentier.
One of the great hotels of
Brussels, the Hôtel Métropole
(see p53) is situated on the
south side of the square. The
1900–10 interior is splendidly
gilded and can be seen either
through the doorway or by
pretending to be a guest. Café
Métropole next door is, how-
ever, open to the public; here,
the lavishly ornate surround ings
date from around 1890.
In the 20th century, archi-
tectural style was still at a pre-
mium in the district. In 1933, a The ornate façade of Eglise St-Jean-Baptiste-au-Béguinage

056-057_EW_Brussels.indd 56 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