Townhall of Brussels - details and images
Building construction was the growing power of Brussels as the capital of the Duchy of Brabant. By the end of 14th century inns and some small wooden houses were on land that would later build City Hall in Brussels. Due to the increasingly important role of the city, its administrators decided to buy these old houses one by one to demolish them and build a new city hall as the needs of the most important administrative center. The cornerstone was laid in the spring of 1402. This building is today the left wing was completed in 1405 with a small tower. It is believed that the original architect of this building was Jacob Van Thienen. In 1444, original building was extended with a wing in drapta which was completed in 1449. That same year, architect Jan Van Ruysbroeck built tower can still be seen today above the building. City Hall expansion was the result of rivalry between Brussels and the neighboring city of Leuven. Leuven and he longed for the title of 'capital of the Duchy of Brabant' and therefore built a massive and well-known hall (the building is still one of the most beautiful and certainly worth visiting Belgium).
Finally, in 1455, a statue of St. Michael defeating the dragon was put on top of the tower City of Brussels. The original statue on the tower remained until June 1996 when it was replaced with a completely new (after 541 years). Most people immediately notice that the mayor's concern is in the middle of the tower building. Legend says that the architect committed suicide by jumping out of turn when he realized that the tower is not located in the middle building. Like most legends that were born around the sights of Brussels, this is not true. The fact that the tower was not even in the middle, the result is just as right wing could not be made just as big as the left because the authorities wanted to keep the street near the wing.
After the destruction of Brussels by French troops in August 1695, only the exterior walls of City Hall tower and could not be saved. The restoration works were started almost immediately after the disaster. In the 17th and 18th century decorative statues have been eroded or disappeared. Full restoration in 1840 was already necessary. Then the entire facade was decorated with 203 small statues representing the Dukes and Ducesele of Brabant, who led the duchy between 580 and 1564.
Today the building still has its place in the Brussels office of mayor. The administrative staff is based in another building on the Boulevard Anspach. In the first half of the 1990s, the Brussels town hall tower was completely restored. In the ensuing years, the facade was cleaned and restored and where it was needed.
Address:
Grand Place - Grote Markt 1000 Brussels
Price:
3 € / pers
€ 2 for children 6-15 years
Free under 6.
Visitation can not be done individually, but only in groups and guided. Minimum group is 12 people.
Schedule:
April - September: 9:30 to 5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch)
October-March: 9:30 to 4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch)
It is closed every Monday and Saturday.
Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December.
Transportation:
Metro: Gare Central
Information source 
Information source
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