- Address: Porte de Hal, Boulevard du Midi 150, 1060 Sint-Gillis, Belgium
- Phone: +32 2 534 15 18
- Opening hours of the museum: from Tuesday to Friday from 9.30 to 17.00, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00, Monday closed
- Cost of visiting: 5 euros
Brussels has a complex but very rich history. At one time the city flourished under the dukes of Burgundy, drowning in luxury goods, was the capital of Niederen Landen ("lower lands") led by the Spaniards and was almost completely destroyed by the French. In our time, Brussels is one of the central places on the political map of Europe.
Its successful location has led to the city becoming a refuge for organizations such as NATO and the EU. However, despite the modern and very successful turn in history, some places and monuments of architecture still remind townspeople how difficult it was to go to this stability and prosperity. And among all the variety that Brussels is rich in, pay your attention to the Halle Gate - the only surviving fragment of fortifications.
A bit of history
The construction of the second city wall, the fragment of which is the Halle Gate, dates from 1357 to 1383. As for the exact date of the construction of the gate itself, it is difficult to find a clear answer. The archival data give a spread from 1357 to 1373, some historians firmly insist on 1360, referring to sources known to them only. But, even without knowing the exact date of construction, we can confidently say that the Halle Gate is a real monument of the history of Brussels, which can be correlated with a lonely guardian of the memory of his city.
After independence, Belgium , the locals demanded the demolition of the Halle Gate, believing that this monument disfigured the face of Brussels. And the city council had already agreed to demolition, but the Royal Commission of Monuments took the structure under its care, recognizing its historical value. So began a protracted restoration work, which was interrupted due to lack of finance. However, anyway, the Halle Gate today is presented to us as a model of neo-Gothic, although initially they were executed in a typical style of architecture.
The Halle Gate today
Our time for this monument of architecture is stable. No one wants to destroy this structure. Moreover, the Halle Gate houses the branch of the Royal Museum of Art and History. The exposition presented here reveals the history of both the structure itself and the city as a whole. In addition, among the exhibits can be observed an exhibition of medieval weapons. The museum has a Gothic hall, a hall for weapons and armor, a guild hall, there is also a place for temporary exhibitions and exhibitions, and under the roof there is an observation deck from which a wonderful panorama of the city opens.
The museum opens at 9.30 on weekdays and at 10.00 on Saturday and Sunday, and continues until 17.00. On Mondays the museum is closed. In addition, you can not visit the museum on January 1, May 1, November 1 and November 11 and December 25. Also the work of the museum ends at 2 pm on December 24 and 31. The ticket costs 5 euros. Take into account also the fact that tickets are sold until 16.00.
How to get there?
You can reach the Halle Gates by public transport. For example, by tram number 3, 55, 90, and also by bus number 27, 48, 365A. In all cases, you need to go to the station Porte de Hal.
| | | |
