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Brussels Town Hall

About

Dominating the south side of the Grand Place, the Brussels Town Hall is a Gothic masterpiece and the only surviving medieval building on the square. Constructed between 1401 and 1455, it served as the seat of municipal power and remains a symbol of civic pride. Its soaring 96-metre tower, crowned by a statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon, is a defining feature of the city’s skyline. The building’s richly decorated façade showcases intricate stone carvings and heraldic symbols, while the interior reveals grand halls such as the Gothic Room and the Wedding Hall, adorned with tapestries and frescoes. Despite suffering damage during the 1695 bombardment of Brussels, the Town Hall was meticulously restored and continues to host official ceremonies and guided tours. Recognised as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands not only as an architectural gem but also as a living monument to Brussels’ political and artistic legacy—a place where history, governance, and grandeur converge.

Brussels Belgium
Brussels Town Hall
Location

Brussels Town Hall, or Hôtel de Ville, stands proudly on the south side of the Grand Place (Grote Markt), the city’s renowned UNESCO World Heritage central square. This Gothic masterpiece, built between 1401 and 1455, is the only medieval building remaining on the Grand Place and is instantly recognizable by its soaring spire topped with a statue of Saint Michael, Brussels’ patron saint. The Town Hall is surrounded by the opulent Baroque guildhalls that encircle the Grand Place, as well as the neo-Gothic King's House (Maison du Roi/Broodhuis), which houses the Brussels City Museum. In the immediate vicinity, visitors can explore the vibrant streets filled with cafés, chocolatiers, and shops, as well as other iconic attractions such as the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Manneken Pis, and the Bourse. The Grand Place itself is the focal point for many of Brussels’ cultural events, including the biennial Flower Carpet and festive Christmas markets, making the Town Hall an essential landmark at the heart of the city’s historic and cultural life.

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 Place Royale Place Royale Square Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Statue of Everard t'Serclaes Statue 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