North of Parc de Bruxelles, Congress Quartiers
PLACE DE LA NATION, ST MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, BELGIAN PARLIAMENT, CONGRESS QUARTIERS, RUE ROYALE

This page is about the Congress Quartiers, the area immediately to the North, Northwest and West of Brussels Park (Parc de Bruxelles) in the city center. Here you find the palace of the Belgian Parliament, the gothic Cathedral of St-Michel, the imposing Congress Column with the tomb of the unknown soldier at Place Congress, the statue of Baron Horta and several interesting buildings, restaurants, pubs and monuments. To the west goes Rue Royale.

 

CATHEDRAL AND THE QUARTERS AROUND:

Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule - Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula was built between 1226 and 1519. The most prominent gothic church of Brussels is standing on Tuerenberg Hill, between the Congress Center and the Old Town, with the front at Place Ste-Gudule close to the Central Station, and is surrounded by modern buildings.

  


Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula was given cathedral status in 1962


 Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, a roman catholic church

Looking up the Cathedral's 64m high towers. The cathedral is 57m wide and 114m long externally. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to visit the interior during our visit.

 
Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule   Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule   Trash at the back of the cathedral!

 
Cathedral   Cathedral   Cathedral, gothic details

 
Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule   Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule   Cathédrale St-Michel-et-Gudule

 
Cathedral seen from Sinter-Goedelerplein. It is really large and takes some time to walk around it, it is also located on a small hill   Statue of Cardinal Mercier at the cathedral   Statue of Cardinal Mercier at the cathedral

 

  
Musée de Banque Natinonale de Belgique (Museum of the National Bank of Belgium)   Postmodern building next to the cathedral   There is some interesting modern architecture right next to the cathedral

 
Postmodern building next to the cathedral   Other postmodern and classic buildings next to the cathedral   Postmodern and baroque styles mixed

 
Place Ste-Guduel in front of the cathedral, looking towards the Old Town   Rue Teurenberg leads to the cathedral from Rue Royal   Town Hall and Old Town seen from the cathedral

 

 

RUE DE LA LOI (WETSTRAAT) AND PALAIS DE LA NATION:

The Palace of the Nation (Palais de la Nation), the Belgian Parliament is situated at Place de la Nation, on Rue de la Loi (Wetstraat) just to the North of Parc de Bruxelles. This neo-classic edifice was completed in 1783 to host the Sovereign Concil of Brabant.

  


The Palace of the Nation.
The Palace of the Nation seen from Rue de la Loi.The Northern gate to Parc de Bruxelles (Brussels Park) at Rue de la Loi.

 

PLACE DU CONGRES (CONGRESPLAATS):


The Congress Column (Colonne du Congrès) is a 47m high corinthian column that commemorates the creation of the Belgian state by the National Congress in 1830-31. It stands at Place du Congres (Congresplaats) at the intersection Rue Royale/Rue de Congresse with a statue of King Leopold I on top. It was inaugurated in 1859.

 


Statue of King Leopold I on the top of the column, that was designed by Joseph Poelaert, the man behind the Palace of Justice.
Belgium was born in 21st July 1831.The tomb of the unknown soldier with the eternal flame.

 
The tomb of the unknown soldier. Five unknown soldiers, victims of WWI were buried here in 1922.   Place du Congres and Rue Royale   Names of national congress members


Place du Congres with neglect buildings surrounding the column, most of them in grey modernist style. Finance Tower, Brussel's second tallest, is seen in the background.

 

Sculpture on a streetlight, Place du Congres
Ugly modernist building with damaged facade

 
Skyline of the Business district seen from Place du Congres   The statues at the base of the Congress Column represent the constitutional liberties   Centre Monnaie seen from Place du Congres

 

RUE ROYALE (KONINGSSTRAAT):

Rue Royale is a long road passes several interesting monuments, historical buildings, modern office buildings, small squares, the botanical garden and churches. It goes from the Royal Palace and Parc de Bruxelles in the South to St Mary's Royal Church in the North.

Rue Royale with views towards the lower part of the city where the Old Town is situated (note the Town Hall to the far right). The sculpture is Baron Horta, the architect that designed many of Brussels jugend buildings, some at Grand Place. The quarters are called the Royal Quarters and hosts several large art museums.

 
Rue Royale is trafficated by Brussels modern trams   Rue Royale is bordering the park to the West   An older tram

 
Theatre Royal du Parc   Rue Royal towards the Royal Palace, Parc de Bruxelles to the left   The statue is Henri Alexis Brialmont, La Rotonde. Madou Plaza in the back

 

  
Beautiful buildings at Rue Royale   La Rotonde, a square at Rue Royale.   Maison des Parlementaires and Rue de Louvain


Eglise Royale Sainte-Marie (St Mary´s Royal Church), a roman catholic parish church in the Northern end of Rue Royale. It was built 1845-85 in an eclectic style, combining roman and byzantine architecture.

  


Picturesque narrow buildings and a hilly side street
Place de la Congres i a bit neglect.