COUDENBERG

Description

Essentials about the Coudenberg in brief

History and archeology buffs should not miss a tour of the Coudenberg (Old Dutch for “Cold Hill”) palace ruins during a visit to Brussels. Perched on a hill, the Palace of Coudenberg towered over the center of Brussels for some 700 years, serving as a residence for countless counts, dukes, kings and emperors to rule over the Duchy of Brabant from the 12th to the 18th centuries. In 1731, the palace burned down and was subsequently demolished. Today, the archaeological foundations of the palace, once one of the most beautiful in Europe, can still be seen in an underground tour.

The history of the Coudenberg

Around 1100, the Counts of Leuven built a fortress on Coudenberg Hill, from which they dominated Brussels. Brussels and Coudenberg Castle became increasingly important during the establishment of the Duchy of Brabant. During the construction of the first fortifications of Brussels, the castle was enclosed by them and from then on also served to defend the city.

Under the leadership of the dukes Joan and Wenceslas I, the second city wall of Brussels was built in the late 14th century, which also enclosed the surrounding fields and superstructures. The castle, which was now located at some distance from the new city wall, thus lost its defensive function and was increasingly transformed into a residential palace.

In 1430, the Duchy of Brabant was occupied by the House of Burgundy. Philip III had the palace expanded, the park beautified and the famous Aula Magna built, one of the largest and most magnificent halls in Europe, where a number of important historical events and ceremonies took place throughout history.

During his reign, Charles V had the Place des Bailles built in front of the palace, as well as galleries and Renaissance-style rooms. He also had the Grand Chapel built in the Gothic style in memory of his parents. In the chapel was kept the vault of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

In the 17th century, during the period of the Spanish Netherlands, further expansion works were carried out on the palace. Archdukes Albrecht VII of Austria and Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain restored the palace’s showpieces, buildings and living quarters, as well as the gardens. Numerous renowned artists participated in these works, such as Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens.

During the period of the Austrian Netherlands, the palace was inhabited by Maria Elisabeth of Austria. On the night of February 3 to 4, 1731, the devastating accident occurred that heralded the end of the palace. A fire broke out, which almost destroyed the entire palace due to the lack of water supply. There were no financial means available for reconstruction. It was not until 1774 that Charles Alexander of Lorraine built the Place Royale (Royal Square) on the same site in place of the palace and the Royal Park of Brussels, also called Warandepark, in place of the gardens.

The few parts of the building that had survived the devastating fire of 1731 to some extent were finally demolished after 1775 as well, since the architectural style no longer corresponded to the taste of the time. Only the underground rooms of the castle were preserved, and some of them were subsequently used as cellars for the new buildings constructed above them. They can be visited today. The old church of St. James on Coudenberg was replaced by the convent church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, designed in neo-classical style. The church can still be visited today on Place Royale.