House of the Dukes of Brabant, Protected heritage building complex in Grand Place, Brussels.
The House of the Dukes of Brabant is a building complex on the Grand Place in Brussels that groups seven former guild houses behind one shared facade. The facade runs across three floors and is divided by pilasters, with busts placed between them, giving the whole row a single coherent appearance.
The building was put up in 1698, a few years after the French bombardment of 1695 had destroyed much of the Grand Place. Grouping several guild houses under one facade was part of a coordinated effort to rebuild the square quickly and give it a more unified look.
The name of the building comes from the 19 busts of the Dukes of Brabant that line the facade above the pilasters. Visitors who look closely can spot small differences between the sections, a reminder that each part once belonged to a different guild.
The building stands on the south side of the Grand Place and is easy to reach on foot since the square is closed to cars. Inside, a restaurant and the only hotel directly on the square are available, making it a convenient starting point for visiting the old town.
Although the facade looks like one building, each of the seven houses behind it kept its own name, such as La Renommée and L'Hermitage, which are still used today. These names are sometimes visible on small plaques, easy to miss if you are not looking for them.
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