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100 Route 10. BRUSSELS. Upper Town:
(p. 148). Through the archway opposite we enter the Rue de Namur,
continuing the main line of traffic from the Montagne de la Cour
to the upper boulevards (p. 122). — On the left of the beginning of
the Rue de la Régence stands the Palais du Comte de Flandre(P1. B, 4;
no admission). On the right is the Palais des Beaux-Arts (p.106).
The Ruz Royaus (Pl. E, 4; Flem. Konings-Straat) runs to the
N. from the Place Royale, skirting the Park, with the church of Ste.
Marie at Schaerbeek in the distance (p. 135). On the right is the
Palais du Roi(Pl. E, 4), in the Place des Palais, occupying the site
of the castle of the dukes of Brabant (p. 98) and the Spanish governors,
which was burned down in 1731. The palace was much extended
in 1827-29, brilliantly restored in the interior by Alph. Balat in
1875, and since 1905 has been undergoing extensive alterations,
including the erection of two new wings, at the hands of Ch. Girault,
the French architect. — At the S.E. corner of the Park is the Palais
des Académies (p. 124).
The Park (Pl. E, 3, 4), used as a ducal hunting-ground in the
14th cent., was laid out in its present form after 1774 by Zinner,
the Austrian architect. Some of the decorative sculptures date from
this period (e.g. two figures of Meleager by Lejeune) but most are
works of the 19th century. In the BH. part of the park is an alle-
gorical figure of Truth by T. Vincotte (1881), commemorating G. L.
Godecharle (p. Ixxyi), the sculptor. The park is open in summer
till 14 p.m.; in winter till dusk. Concerts, see p. 95. — In the N.E.
corner is the Vauvhall (P). B, music, p. 95), adjoining which is
the Thédtre du Parc (Pl. B, 3, 4; p. 95).
On a small terrace near the beginning of the Rue Royale rises
the marble Statue of General Count Belliard (1769-1832; Pl. E, 4),
who was French ambassador at the newly-constituted court of Belgium
in 1831-32, by W. Geefs (1836). This spot commands a fine view
of the tower of the Hétel de Ville (p. 428), best by morning-light.
The flight of steps behind the Belliard Monument leads to the Rue
@Isabelle (Pl. E, 4), at No. 34 in which (formerly No. 32) Charlotte Bronté
spent some years, first as a pupil and afterwards as a teacher, in the
“pensionnat’ of M. & Mme. Héger.
In the Rue de la Loi (p. 136), which skirts the N. side of the
Park, rises the Palais de la Nation (Pl. E, 3), erected in 1779-83
from a design by Guimard for the assemblies of the old Council of
Brabant, and used since 1834 for the sittings of the Belgian Senate
and the Chamber of Deputies. The reliefs in the pediment are by
Godecharle. The building was restored in 1884-87 by H. Beyaert
after a fire. The halls in which the deputies and the senate hold
their meetings contain paintings by L. Gallait, J. de Lalaing, and
others, and some good tapestries. Adm., see p. 97. — The build-
ings to the E. and W. of the Palais de la Nation are occupied by
government-offices. Behind the E. wing is the Ministry of Railways,
Posis, § Telegraphs (Pl. B, 3), designed by H. Beyaert. |