Brussels › Places and landmarks
Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula
Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule
Brussels’ Gothic cathedral on the slope towards the upper town, where royal weddings are held.
The cathedral was built over some three centuries, from 1226, in the Gothic style of Brabant, with two square towers on its white front. Its stained-glass windows include ones given by Charles V.
It is where Belgian royal weddings and state funerals take place, and where the national Te Deum is sung.
More in Brussels
Grand-PlaceGuild houses and a Gothic town hall round one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.
Town HallThe Gothic town hall with its 96-metre tower, topped by Saint Michael slaying the dragon.
King’s HouseThe neo-Gothic house facing the town hall, home of the city museum and Manneken Pis’ wardrobe.
Manneken PisA bronze boy barely half a metre tall, with a wardrobe of more than a thousand costumes.
Galeries Royales Saint-HubertOne of the first covered shopping arcades in Europe, opened in 1847 under a glass roof.
BourseThe old stock exchange of 1873, on a boulevard that has been free of cars since 2015.
Mont des ArtsThe garden steps between the lower and the upper town, with a view over the city.
SablonThe square of antique dealers and chocolatiers, below the Gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon.
FriesThick fries fried twice in beef fat, served in a paper cone with mayonnaise.
ChocolateThe praline was invented in Brussels, in the Galeries Saint-Hubert, in 1912.
Comic-strip wallsTintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke painted on the gable walls of the old town.