Richly Ornamented Facades of La Grand Place Brussels

The stroll in the square of La Grand Place Brussels is most memorable to me. The richly ornamented facades in the Grand Place of Brussels stunned me beyond words.

A Belgian waffle in one hand, camera in the other I was confused which to enjoy! The waffle was disappearing fast while I was taking a closer look at the architectural splendor all around. It was quite dizzying standing at one spot feasting on waffle, turning round and round, eyes feasting on the rich facades at the same time.

The air was filled with the scents of warm waffles, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts, creating a magical ambiance that warmed my heart.

Locator Map – la grande place Brussels

BLOCK 1

First block in the map is the facade of the Northeast corner of the Grand Place in Brussels

NORTHEAST CORNER GRAND-PLACE By EmDee – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14673461 – From right to left: Le Heaume, Le Paon, Le Petit Renard, Le Chêne, Sainte-Barbe and L’Âne

BLOCK 2

MAISON DU ROI, 2 in Locator Map shared above

This is located in the Maison du Roi (King’s House) or Broodhuis (Breadhouse). The exhibits and information here explain the history and folklore of the City of Brussels from its foundation days to modern times. There are rich paintings, sculptures, tapestries, engravings, photos and models. Most impressive are the scale-representation of the town during the Middle Ages.

MAISON DU ROI

MAISON DU ROI – The King’s House, also called the Breadhouse. The building never housed a King: only Dukes. Roof details- Grand-Place of Brussels

BLOCK 3

Cross Rue des Harengs

You are now at the final segment of La Grande Place Brussels. LE PIGEON at 3 in the Locator Map of La Grande Place Brussels shared above.

• No. 28 has a strange name, La Chambrette de l’Amman (the Little Chamber of the Amman), with an alternate name Le Marchand d’Or (the Gold Merchant), because it was once a gold merchant’s premises. The building dates back to 1709. (A kind of early mayor were named Amman, a minion of the dukes of Brabant.)
• No. 26-27, Le Pigeon (the Pigeon), was the Painters’ Guild House. It dates back to 1697. In the 1850s, Victor Hugo spent part of his time in exile from France here, firing off literary broadsides at Napoleon III until the City Fathers told him to leave town. Today it is a fine lace store, the Maison Antoine and a branch of Neuhaus pralines.
• No. 24-25, known as La Chaloupe d’Or (the Golden Sloop), or the Maison des Tailleurs (House of the Tailors). Look up to see to see statue of St. Boniface, a native of Brussels, on the roof. It is now the deluxe lace store Rubbrecht Dentelles.
• No. 23, L’Ange (the Angel), is a private house in the Italian Flemish style, graced by Doric and Ionic pilasters.
• Nos. 21-22 and 20, respectively known as Joseph et Anne (Joseph and Anne), and Le Cerf (the Stag) are relatively plain private dwellings. These date back to the first decade of 18^th century. Joseph et Anne houses the Godiva Chocolates store, and Le Cerf is a traditional Belgian restaurant.

Le Pigeon in Grand Place

Le Pigeon where Victor Hugo lived during his exile in Belgium in 1852. He has written many complimentary comments about Brussels later. A major facelift was on when we visited Grand Place. The building was covered with a print that exactly replicated the original facade. (Second house from your left in the picture below.)

BLOCK 4

Fourth block in map

The most alluring façade to catch my eye was the Maison des Ducs de Brabant (House of the Dukes of Brabant). LA MAISON DES DUCS DE BRABANT is a group of six guild houses, designed by the Controller of Public Works, Guillaume de Bruyn. This looks like an Italian Baroque palazzo. Stone busts of the ducal line along the facade give this group of houses their name.

Behind it was the array of seven mansions numbered 13 to 19:

• No.19 – La Bourse (the Stock Exchange)
• No.18 – La Colline (the Hill), formerly the Stonemasons’ Guild House
• No.17 – Le Pot d’Etain (the Pewter Tankard), formerly the Carpenters’ Guild House
• No.16 – Le Moulin à Vent (the Windmill), formerly the Millers’ Guild House
• No.15 – La Fortune (Fortune), formerly the Tanners’ Guild House
• No.14 – L’Ermitage (the Hermitage), also known as L’Ecrevisse (the Crayfish)
• No.13 – La Renommé (Fame)

No 12A is a private residence called L’Alsemberg, separate from the above facade.

DE BRABANT

LA MAISON DES DUCS DE BRABANT at 4 in Locator map shared above.

Facades in the Grand Place of Brussels – Upper floor windows of the guild houses overlooking the Grand Place – LA MAISON DES DUCS DE BRABANT.

It was like standing in a open sky museum rich with architectural marvels of Medieval times. The quality of the architecture here clearly depicts the successful status of the mercantile society that existed then.

BLOCK 5

EVERARD’T SERCLAES at 5 in Locator Map shared above

• This side of the Grand-Place Brussels has two relatively unadorned private homes:

1. Le Mont Thabor from 1699 at no. 12
2. La Rose (the Rose) from 1702 at no. 11. (Now the rustic Belgian bistro La Rose Blanche

• No. 10, L’Arbre d’Or (the Golden Tree) It is headquarters of the Brewers’ Guild from 1698. Now it is Musée de la Brasserie
• No. 9 is known as Le Cygne (the Swan), for the sculptured swan above the doorway. Dates back to 1698. Formerly the Butchers’ Guild House, it now houses the restaurant La Maison du Cygne
• No. 8, L’Etoile (the Star), is a small house that was built in 1897 over the archway on rue Charles Buls (ensure good luck by rubbing the bronze deathbed sculpture of Everard ‘t Serclaes, on this side street) Serclaes was a 14th-century local hero who freed the city from the counts of Flanders, and who died resisting another would-be conqueror.

EVERARD’T SERCLAES

BLOCK 6

HOTEL DE VILLE – 6th block in the Locator Map above.
Town Hall of Brussels

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the Town Hall. Its Gothic-style tower rose majestically, seemingly reaching for the heavens. Below is a picture of damaged statue between the arches on the facade of Town Hall. The number of gargoyles one gets to click here can compile into a huge album.

Gargoyle in Grand Place Brussels

Facade details of Grand Place Town Hall Brussels

HOTEL DE VILLE

Archangel Michael slaying a demon on the facade of the arched doorway of the Town hall.

Facades in the Grand Place of Brussels

BLOCK 7

Cross over Rue des Chapeliers

7 in locator Map shared above.

• No. 7, Le Renard (the Fox), formerly the Haberdashers’ Guild House, dates from 1699. Look for reliefs of typical haberdashery tasks on the busy facade, along with sculptures representing Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and on the roof a statue of St. Nicholas, the guild’s patron saint.
• No. 6, the Italian-Flemish Le Cornet (the Horn), from 1697, which takes its name from a relief of a horn above the doorway. This was the Boatmens’ Guild House, as you might well guess from the nautical images on the facade and the pediment in the shape of a sailing ship’s stern.
• Images of ancient Rome adorn the facade of no. 5, La Louve (the She-Wolf), dating back to 1696. Notice the classic image of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf. The façade of Archers’ Guild House has the medallions of emperors Trajan, Tiberius, Augustus, and Julius Caesar.
• No. 4, Le Sac (the Sack), formerly the Carpenters’ and Coopers’ Guild House dates back to the year 1644. It is a precious heritage, as the lower floors survived the 1695 bombardment. Post-bombardment, the upper floors were rebuilt according to the original style.
• No. 3, La Brouette (the Wheelbarrow), survived the French guns. The façade of this building of 1645 was embellished in later years. A tavern now, do notice the sculpture of St. Gilles, the guild’s patron saint, on the gable.
• No. 1-2, Le Roy d’Espagne (the King of Spain), was the Baker’s guild house from 1697. The building stands out distinctly with its neoclassical Italianate look. Its cupola surmounted by a gilded weather vane. Medallions sport images of Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius, Nerva, Decius, and Trajan. Today this ornate building houses one of Brussels’s finest cafes.

From right to left: Le Roy d’Espagne, La Brouette, Le Sac, La Louve, Le Cornet and Le Renard. Each of them has such stunning facade details, no wonder this is one of the most visited and photographed place in the city.

LE RENARD, LE CORNET and LE ESPAGNE

Cross over Rue au Beurre

You can now see a series of 6 houses with plain facades on Le Grand Place. The houses from nos. 39 to 34, from left to right, the six are called

• No. 39 – L’Ane (the Donkey)
• No. 38 – Ste-Barbe (St. Barbara)
• No. 37 – Le Chêne (the Oak Tree)
• No. 36 – Le Peitit Renard (the Little Fox)
• No. 35 – Le Paon (the Peacock)
• No. 34 – Le Heaume (the Helmet)

The Grand Place of Brussels is not just a historical site since the 12th century, but also a vibrant hub of several other activities. The themes change according times, festivals and seasons. There are guided touristic visits around this place. Parties, concerts, parades, Christmas markets, exhibitions, and various other events and commemorations take place in the heart of the Belgian capital.

During parties, concerts, and parades, people from all walks of life unite here, at the Grand Place, to celebrate and revel in the joyous atmosphere.

Facade details – Le Grand Place

Embracing the Grand Place, majestic municipal and ducal buildings stood eloquently, speaking volumes of the city’s grand past. The charm of the former guild houses adds to the enchantment, each one showcasing unique architectural marvels from different periods in time.

The classic image of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf on the facade of no. 5, La Louve (the She-Wolf). See one more here – Palatine Hills Rome.

Romulus and Remus – Le Grand Place Brussels

As the sun began to set, the square took on a whole new charm. The buildings were illuminated, the facades seemed to speak out louder, their reflected lights casting a warm glow on the cobblestones below.

Parting Thoughts from Grand Place Brussels

Did you like this photo essay on the richly ornamented facades in the Grand Place of Brussels?

If you are still contemplating over whether to include The Grand Place to your Brussels itinerary I will say, go for it. I whole heartedly recommend this place where history, art, and humanity converge. Hope travel Gods will bless me enough with an opportunity to revisit this GRAND ‘Grand Place’ of Brussels.

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