City hall BRUSSELS-CITY in BRUSSELS / BELGIUM description:This gothic town hall with bell-
tower is dated from the 15th century, and is undoubtedly one of the best examples
of the popular brabantion gothic.
The left wing wiht little belfrytowers was built between 1401 and 1420 under the
orders of the architect Jacob (Jacques) van Thienen.
The first stone of the right wing was placed by Charles the bold in 1444 and finished
in 1448.
The original bell tower that looked to small between the two wings, was rebuilt with
the architect Jan van Ruysbroeck into a 97 meter high
belfrytower and was finished in 1455. This tower gives a
slender, airy impression. This is supported by flying
buttresses and is richely decorated (amongst others with
gargouilles). The copper statue of
five meters high, that is decorated with golden crochets
above the spire depicts Saint Michel who beats a dragon.
Saint-Michel is the patron saint of Brussels and the statue is of the hand of
Maarten van Rode.
The fassade contains statues of the duces and duchesses
ofBrabant. They look at the Town Square from under
baldachines decorated with crochets.
The back building is much more recent. It was built between 1706 and 1711 in
classicistic baroque.
After Eric Francart:: 'I am sorry, but the tower is not the bellfrey of Brussels.
This collapsed in 1714. See :
http://bruxellesanecdotique.skynetblogs.be/post/6603279/le-beffroi-de-bruxelles . In
an old book, I've seen a gravure of the bellfrey, which was in front of the Saint
Nicolas' church. '
For the night illumination pictures our thanks go to
Bart Van Oudenhove.
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