L'Hôtel de Ville

Also known as:

Stadhuis

Grand-Place, Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Lower Town BelgiumPrint this page   •   Share this page   •   Map This

This is the most prominent feature of the lower (Spanish) section of Brussels, and its tower can be seen for miles in all directions. While that makes for great art and architecture, it also caused problems for its neighbors on the Grand-Place. The French used the tower as a bull's eye during the bombardment of 1695. Fortunately for the Stadhuis, their aim wasn't that good. But unfortunately, all the surrounding buildings were blown up by the wayward French ordinances. In all, 4,000 houses and 16 churches were leveled, but the Stadhuis wasn't scathed. The left wing was built by Jacques van Thienen 1402. It didn't take too long for that to fill up, so a right wing was built by an unknown architect from 1444-1448. Charles the Bold, then the Count of Charolais, personally laid the cornerstone for the expansion. The final piece of the building, the tower by Jean van Ruysbroeck, replaced the existing belfry and climbs 300 feet into the sky. It was built from 1449-1454, and is a masterpiece of stone lacework; sturdy enough to survive the ages, yet light enough in vision to blend with the air it occupies. The 15-foot-tall bronze figure at the top is Saint Michael stomping on a dragon. It was made by Martin van Rode in 1454. The building is a simple rectangle, modeled on the mansions of the Middle Ages. What sets it apart is the level of attention given to the details. An integral part of the building's design are the dozens and dozens of carvings of royalty, noblemen, and virtues of years past. Almost every flat surface has been used as a stonework canvas. Even things as simple as lamp brackets that flank the original entrance became works of art. One depicts the legend of Herkenbald. The other shows the lord of Gaasbeek murdering Everard 't Serclaes. Another part of the same bracket shows Gaasbeek's soul being spirited away to Hell. Still another bracket on another part of the Stadhuis shows people scooping chairs up with shovels. This is an allusion to a common torture method of the time -- tying someone to a chair and throwing them in a swamp.

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