Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

72  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA

carvings depicting the young
girl in a boat, since the statue
was destroyed in 1565.
The interior of the church is
simple but beautifully propor-
tioned, with inter-connecting
side chapels and an impres sive
pulpit dating from 1697. Of
particular interest are the 11
magnificent stained-glass
windows, 14 m (45 ft) high,
which dominate the inside
of the church. As the church is
lit from the inside, they shine
out at night like welcoming
Fountain, a gift to the city, at Place du Grand Sablon beacons. Also worth a visit is
the chapel of the Tour et Taxis
q Place du well-known chocolate shop; at family, whose mansion once
Grand Sablon No. 12 is Wittamer’s pâtisserie, stood near the Place du Petit
which also has its own tea room Sablon. In 1517, the family had
Map 2 D4. @ 27, 38, 48, 63, 65, 66, on the first floor. tapestries com missioned to
71, 95. v 92, 93, 94, 97. q Gare Every weekend the area near commemorate the legend that
Centrale, Louise, Parc. the church plays host to a lively led to the chapel becoming a
Situated on the slope of the and thriving, if rather expensive, place of pilgrim age. Some now
escarpment that divides antiques market. hang in the Musées Royaux
Brussels in two, the Place du d’Art et d’His toire in Parc du
Grand Sablon is like a step ping w Notre Dame Cinquantenaire (see p79), but
stone between the upper others were stolen by the
and lower halves of the city. du Sablon French Revolu tionary army
The name “sablon” derives Place du Grand Sablon, 1000 BRU. in the 1790s.
from the French “sable” Map 2 D4. Tel (02) 213 0065. @ 27,
(sand) and the square is 38, 48, 71, 95. v 92, 93, 94, 97.
so-called because this old q Gare Centrale, Louise, Parc. Open
route down to the city centre 8am–6pm daily. 7 8 on request.
once passed through an area
of sandy marshes. Along with the Cathédrale Sts
Today, the picture is very Michel et Gudule (see pp74–5),
different. The square, more of a this lovely church is one of the
triangle in shape, stretches from finest remaining examples of
a 1751 fountain by Jacques Brabant Gothic architecture
Berge at its base uphill to the in Belgium.
Gothic church of Notre-Dame A church was first erected
du Sablon. The fountain was a here when the guild of cross-
gift of the Englishman Lord bowmen was granted
Bruce, out of gratitude for permission to build a chapel to
the hospitality shown to him Our Lady on this sandy hill. The magnificent interior of the church of
in Brussels. The square is Legend has it that a young girl Notre-Dame du Sablon
surrounded by elegant town in Antwerp had a vision of
houses, some with Art the Virgin Mary who e Place du Petit
Nouveau façades. This is instructed her to take her
a chic, wealthy and statue to Brussels. The Sablon
busy part of Brussels, girl carried the statue of Map 2 D4. @ 27, 38, 48, 71, 95.
an area of up-market the Virgin to Brussels v 92, 93, 94, 97. q Gare Centrale,
antiques dealers, down the Senne river Louise, Parc.
fashionable restaurants by boat and gave it to
and trendy bars, which the crossbowmen’s These pretty, formal gardens
really come into their chapel, which rapidly were laid out in 1890 and are
own in warm weather became a place of a charming spot to stop for a
when people stay Notre-Dame du pilgrimage. Work to rest. On top of the railings
drinking outside until Sablon window enlarge the church that enclose the gardens are
the early hours of the began around 1400 numerous bronze statuettes by
morning: a good place in which but, due to lack of funds, was Art Nouveau artist Paul Hankar,
to soak up the atmosphere. not completed until 1550. All each one representing a differ-
Wittamer, at No. 6, is a justifiably that remains today are two ent medieval guild of the city.

072-073_EW_Brussels.indd 72 10/01/17 11:04 am