Tour of the Historic Center |
Start : Grand-Place
Fountain " The Perron" (listed) Gothic fountain erected in 1523, near the Jean de Nivelles tower.
The Collegiate Church of St Gertrude
Walk down the side of the church to look at the transept gable known as the "Pignon St Pierre" (13th century)
Turn right "Rue de Saintes". Go up the hill and under the the archway, to the "Esplanade du Souvenir" (war memorial), formerly "Place de l'Abreuvoir".
Turn left into the "Rue de Charleroi". On your right is the former convent of the Recollets, now the church of SS Jean et Nicolas, a simple late-Gothic church with an aisle-less nave. Construction of these beautiful, cloistered convent buildings began in 1586 and the chapter-house on the east side is also 16th century.
Leave the church and walk further down the road. On the left at No 18 is "La Maison du Grand Bailli", or Hotel Dept, the house of the last bailiff of the abbess, a building which dates from the 17th century. Louis XVI style porch. Opposite, on the corner of the "Rue de Charleroi" and the "Rue des Récollets", is a former seminary erected in 1605 with doorway in the Louis XV style.
Continue down to the left along the "Rue de Charleroi". On your left is a series of little 17th century houses. At the junction, turn right into the "Rue St Georges", "Rue des Conceptionnistes" where: - no 15 is 14th and 15th century More old houses are situated down a little street to the left ("Rue Neuve", turning into "Rue des Conceptionnistes"). At the end turn right into "Rue de L'Eveché", cross the "Rue de Namur" and continue straight on into "Rue Messager d'Anvers". To the right you will notice the "Rue Pont Gotissart", formerly "Rue des 9 Boulets", where the nine canon-balls can be seen cemented into the façades of four houses.
Taking a left turn here brings you to the "Rue de Bruxelles". Turn right towards the Museum of Archaeology, Art and History.
Now turn left along the "Rue St André", noting the half-timbered gable of No 7, till you arrive at the Square Gabrielle Petit. On your left is the "Palais de Justice" (Law Courts).
You are back at the Grand-Place.
A full description of this walk is available at the Information Desk. Retour - Terug - Back |