Cities
Belgium Brussels Central Brussels Square

Place Royale

About

Place Royale, or Koningsplein, is a stately neoclassical square at the heart of Brussels’ Royal Quarter, steeped in history and architectural harmony. Built between 1775 and 1782 on the ruins of the former Coudenberg Palace, it was designed by Jean-Benoît-Vincent Barré and Gilles-Barnabé Guimard as part of a grand urban renewal project. The square’s symmetrical layout and uniform façades reflect Enlightenment ideals of order and civic pride. At its centre stands an equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon, a medieval crusader and national hero. Framed by cultural landmarks such as the Church of St. James on Coudenberg, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, and the BELvue Museum, Place Royale serves as a gateway to Brussels’ historical and artistic core. Its cobbled expanse and surrounding institutions make it a focal point for both reflection and exploration. Whether admired for its classical elegance or its layered past, Place Royale remains a defining space in the city’s urban and cultural landscape.

Brussels Belgium
Place Royale
Location

Place Royale, or Koningsplein, is a grand neoclassical square situated in the Royal Quarter at Place Royale 1000 Brussels, right in the historic heart of the city. Built between 1775 and 1782 on the site of the former Palace of Coudenberg, the square is distinguished by its elegant symmetry, stately architecture, and the striking equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon at its center. Flanked by the Church of St. James on Coudenberg, Place Royale is surrounded by some of Brussels’ most prestigious museums, including the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Magritte Museum, the BELvue Museum, and the Musical Instruments Museum, all within a short stroll. The remains of the Coudenberg Palace can also be explored beneath the square. Just steps away are the Royal Palace, Brussels Park, the Mont des Arts cultural district, and the city’s main cathedral, making Place Royale an ideal starting point for discovering Brussels’ rich heritage and vibrant cultural scene.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Museum Magritte Museum Magritte Museum Museum Belgian Comic Strip Center Belgian Comic Strip Center Museum Musical Instruments Museum Musical Instruments Museum Museum Autoworld Autoworld Museum BELvue Museum BELvue Museum Museum Train World Train World Museum Museum of the City of Brussels Museum of the City of Brussels Museum Brouwerij Cantillon Brouwerij Cantillon Museum Royal Palace of Brussels Royal Palace of Brussels Palace Palace of the Nation Palace of the Nation Palace Castle of Laeken Castle of Laeken Castle La Monnaie La Monnaie Theatre Théâtre Royal du Parc Théâtre Royal du Parc Theatre Royal Flemish Theatre Royal Flemish Theatre Theatre Palais du Coudenberg Palais du Coudenberg Museum Parc de Bruxelles Parc de Bruxelles Park Parc du Cinquantenaire Parc du Cinquantenaire Park Bois de la Cambre Bois de la Cambre Park Botanical Garden of Brussels Botanical Garden of Brussels Botanical Garden Mont des Arts Garden Mont des Arts Garden Park Grand Place Grand Place Square Atomium Atomium Tourist attractions Manneken Pis Manneken Pis Statue Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral Cathedral Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Shopping Centre Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Statue Brussels Town Hall Brussels Town Hall Town Hall Fashion & Lace Museum Fashion & Lace Museum Museum Art & History Museum Art & History Museum Museum Old Masters Museum Old Masters Museum Museum Constantin Meunier Museum Constantin Meunier Museum Museum Wiertz Museum Wiertz Museum Museum Design Museum Brussels Design Museum Brussels Museum House of European History House of European History Museum Jewish Museum of Belgium Jewish Museum of Belgium Museum Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences Museum Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour Museum Erasmus House Erasmus House Museum Museum of Ixelles Museum of Ixelles Museum Van Buuren Museum & Garden Van Buuren Museum & Garden Museum Choco-Story Brussels Choco-Story Brussels Museum Belgian Brewers Museum Belgian Brewers Museum Museum Sewer Museum Sewer Museum Museum Parlamentarium Parlamentarium Museum Royal Observatory of Belgium Royal Observatory of Belgium Observatory MIRA Public Observatory MIRA Public Observatory Observatory Atelier 34zero Muzeum Atelier 34zero Muzeum Gallery Boghossian Foundation Boghossian Foundation Gallery BOZAR BOZAR Cultural Centre Centrale for contemporary art Centrale for contemporary art Gallery Etablissement d’en face Etablissement d’en face Gallery Eté 78 Eté 78 Gallery Fondation A Stichting Fondation A Stichting Museum Fondation CAB Fondation CAB Gallery Galila’s P.O.C. Galila’s P.O.C. Gallery Moonens Foundation Moonens Foundation Gallery n0dine n0dine Gallery Vanhaerents Art Collection Vanhaerents Art Collection Museum La Verrière La Verrière Gallery Wiels Wiels Museum Rodolphe Janssen Rodolphe Janssen Gallery Xavier Hufkens Xavier Hufkens Gallery Mendes Wood DM Mendes Wood DM Gallery Harlan Levey Projects Harlan Levey Projects Gallery Meessen De Clercq Meessen De Clercq Gallery Galerie Greta Meert Galerie Greta Meert Gallery Galerie Nathalie Obadia Galerie Nathalie Obadia Gallery Espace Art Gallery Espace Art Gallery Gallery Galerie d’YS Galerie d’YS Gallery Galerie VidalCuglietta Galerie VidalCuglietta Gallery ZSenne artlab ZSenne artlab Gallery Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles Theatre Théâtre Des Galeries Théâtre Des Galeries Theatre Théâtre de Poche Théâtre de Poche Theatre Théâtre Varia Théâtre Varia Theatre Théâtre Le Public Théâtre Le Public Theatre Théâtre Les Tanneurs Théâtre Les Tanneurs Theatre Théâtre des Martyrs Théâtre des Martyrs Theatre Le 140 Le 140 Theatre