Place Royale

The Place Royale, also known as the Koningsplein, is a historic neoclassical square in Brussels' Royal Quarter. It was built between 1775 and 1782 to replace the ruins of the former Coudenberg Palace, which had been destroyed by a major fire in 1731. The design follows a French model and was created by the architects Jean-Benoît-Vincent Barré and Gilles-Barnabé Guimard. The rectangular, symmetrical square is fully paved and is an outstanding example of 18th-century urban planning. In the center stands an equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the First Crusade, which was erected in 1848. It replaced an earlier statue of the governor Charles Alexander of Lorraine, which was torn down and melted down during the French occupation.

You'll experience the Place Royale as a place of great architectural and cultural importance, lined with major museums and institutions. Among the main sights are the BELvue Museum, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the Musical Instruments Museum, and the Magritte Museum. The neoclassical Church of St. Jacques-sur-Coudenberg also shapes the look of the square; it was here that King Leopold I took his oath in 1831 as the first King of the Belgians. Beneath the paving stones of the square lie archaeological remains of the former palace, which can be visited via the BELvue Museum. The eight corner pavilions in the Louis XVI style now house various cultural and government institutions. The area is well connected to the public transportation network and lies close to Brussels Park and the Royal Palace, making it a central point for travelers interested in culture.