Granvelle Palace

Granvelle Palace was a Renaissance building in Brussels featuring distinctive architecture: a square courtyard, a central staircase tower, and a prominent cupola crowning its top. The design reflected a transition between medieval and early modern styles.

Construction began in 1555 under architect Sebastien van Noyen and marked a shift from medieval to early modern architectural concepts. The building later served as the main headquarters of the Free University of Brussels until its demolition in 1931.

The palace functioned as a center where art collections reflected the Renaissance passion for classical beauty. These works shaped how noble residences appeared and reveal how wealthy families adorned their homes during that era.

The original building no longer exists at this location since it was demolished and replaced by the Ravenstein Gallery. You can learn about its history through museum collections and historical records instead of visiting the physical site.

The building was demolished to make way for the North-South railway connection through central Brussels, which fundamentally reshaped the city. This infrastructure priority shows how urban development sometimes required sacrificing historic structures.