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Upper Town. BRUSSELS. 10. Route. 99
ages and the Renaissance period. The aristocratic upper town, with
the Place Royale, the Rue Royale, and the Place du Musée, exhibits
the stamp of the 18th century. The modern edifices in the inner
boulevards in the lower town, in the Rue de la Régence in the
upper town, and in the fashionable Quartier Léopold display not
only the forms of French Renaissance but also the native designs of
Flemish Renaissance. The huge Palais de Justice, in the S. part of
the old town, is one of the most remarkable buildings in the world.
The modern style of architecture may be studied in the pleasant
Quartier Nord-Est (p.136). An easier and more direct communi ation
between the upper and the lower towns will be established on the
completion of the improvements, which have made room for a new
street beside the Montagne de la Cour, and for the new Rue des
Colonies in continuation of the Rue de la Loi.
a. The Older Part of the Upper Town.
Tramwaxs Nos. 2 (5), 8, 10, 20, 21, and 22 all pass through the Place
also the Omnisus plying from the Exchange via the Montagne de la
and Rue de Namur to Ixelles.
Cour
The verge of the height on which the upper town lies is traced
by the Rue Royale (p. 100), nearly 1/, M. long, which begins at the
Place Royale, whence the Rue de la Régence (p. 103) runs in the
opposite direction. The centre of traffic is the Phack RoyaLE (Pl.
E, 4; Flem. Konings-Plaats), on the Koudenberg (Froidmont, ‘cold
mountain’), the ancient seat of the dukes of Brabant (p. 98). The
Place and the Rue Royale (p. 100), and also the other streets ad-
joining the Park, received their present architectural character from
the French architect Guimard, who designed them in the last quarter
of the 18th century. The principal building, on the S.E. side, is
the court-church of —
St. Jacques sur Coudenberg (Pl. E, 4; Flem. St. Jakob op Kou-
denberg), built in 1776-85 by Guimard and Montoyer and enlarged
in 1843-45, It has a portico of the Corinthian order and alow copper-
roofed belfry and contains two colossal paintings by J. F. Portaels.
In the centre of the square rises a striking equestrian Statue of
Godfrey de Bouillon (Pl. E, 4), the hero of the First Crusade, grasping
the banner of the Cross in his right hand, by Simonis. It was erected
in 1848 on the spot where, in 1097, Godfrey is said to have ex-
horted the Flemings to participate in the Crusade, and to have con-
cluded his appeal with the words ‘Dieu li volt? (God wills it), —
Opposite the church begins the steep and busy street known as
Montagne de la Cour (p. 127), through which we obtain a glimpse of
the lower town. To the S.W., at the end of the Rue de la Régence,
rises the Palais de Justice (p. 105).
The archway in the W. corner of the Place Royale, to the left of
the Hétel de l'Europe, gives access to the Rue du Musée, with
the Royal Library (p. 417) and the Musewm of Modern Paintings |
