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Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale)
The Place Royale (Koningsplein) is a neoclassical square in Brussels' Royal Quarter, built between 1775 and 1782 on the ruins of the Coudenberg palace, which had burnt down in 1731. It was designed by the architects Jean-Benoît-Vincent Barré and Gilles-Barnabé Guimard on the model of French royal squares: it is rectangular, symmetrical and fully paved. In the centre stands the equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon, by Eugène Simonis, placed in 1848 in place of that of Charles Alexander of Lorraine, torn down during the French Revolution. It shows the crusader at the moment of setting off on the First Crusade. The church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, consecrated in 1787, is the main building on the square. Several side pavilions house museums, among them the Magritte Museum. Beneath the square lie the archaeological remains of the old palace. The facades and porticoes have been protected since 1951.
Add it to your trip on Wanloria →Things to do at Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale): 3 missions
- Notice the symmetry of the square's pavilionsWalk the perimeter and see how the corner pavilions repeat the same composition on both sides of the square.
- Photograph the church of Saint-Jacques-sur-CoudenbergFrame the front of the church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, consecrated in 1787, with its portico façade, head-on from the square.
- Find the equestrian statue of Godfrey of BouillonStand in the centre of the square facing the statue of Godfrey of Bouillon on horseback, by Simonis, and walk around it looking at the rider.
Near Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale)?
Visiting Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale) is free.
How much time do you need for Royal Square of Brussels (Place Royale)?
Allow about 30 min for the visit.