Obelisk Anspach, Memorial obelisk and fountain in Sainte-Catherine district, Belgium
Obelisk Anspach is a granite memorial with fountain features in the Sainte-Catherine district, standing on Square des Blindés between two waterways. The structure includes bronze statues, marble medallions, and decorative water elements at its base.
The monument was erected in 1897 to honor Mayor Jules Anspach for overseeing the covering of the Senne River and creating Brussels's Central Boulevards. It was later relocated to its current location from its original site.
The monument displays four shields representing Brussels guilds: crossbowmen, arquebusiers, archers, and fencers. These symbols connect visitors to the city's medieval craft traditions that remain part of its identity today.
The monument stands beside two canals between Quai aux Briques and Quai au Bois à Brûler, easily reached by walking through flat city streets. Best views of the details come from the walking paths surrounding the monument.
The obelisk was built from pink granite with blue stone, decorated with dolphin water spouts and chimera figures by sculptor Godefroid Devreese. This unusual blend of materials and mythological elements makes the monument visually distinctive.
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