Place Royale - Koningsplein

Place Royale is a rectangular plaza in central Brussels flanked by symmetrical neoclassical buildings from the 1700s with matching stone facades. The space opens westward toward Brussels Park and connects to multiple museum buildings, creating a formal courtyard-like setting.

The plaza was created in the 1770s to replace the Palace of Coudenberg after it burned down in 1731. Architects Barré and Guimard designed this new space as a formal center for Brussels, reflecting the city's transformation during that period.

The square bears the king's name and marks where royal power and the city's art scene meet. Today, it serves as a gathering point where visitors experience Brussels' commitment to preserving cultural institutions.

The plaza sits on sloping terrain and connects easily to Brussels Park to the west with museum buildings surrounding the other sides. Visitors can walk freely between these areas, with several broad staircases and pathways helping navigate the elevation changes.

The Church of St. James on Coudenberg on the north side features nine domes across its roofline, an unusual architectural detail that most visitors overlook. This feature from the late 1700s gives the plaza a distinctive visual character that rewards closer inspection.