Cultural institutions
Church of St Jean sur Coudenberg
In the 18th century, Archduke Charles de Lorraine, Governor General of the Netherlands and brother-in-law of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, ordered the construction of the current Place Royale in Brussels. Place Royale was to be built around the church of Saint-Jacques sur Coudenberg of which the Archduke laid the first stone in 1776.
The architects Guimard and
Montoyer were entrusted with building the
neoclassical structure. The very fine interior,
inspired by classical Antiquity, offers a rare type of semicircular
vaults, adorned with coffers. The Ionic and Corinthian capitals are
absolutely true to the Greek orders.
This was the church of Coudenberg
Abbey. It’s one of the finest examples of
classicising architecture from the 18th century in
Belgium.
Today, the parish of Saint-Jacques sur Coudenberg continues its spiritual mission by opening itself up to the City and the wider world. It’s also the church of the diocese to the Armed Forces.
Info
Place Royale
Open: Tue>Sat: 13.00>17.45 h - Sun:
08.30>17.45 h
Masses: Tue, Wed, Thu: 17.15 h - Sun: 09.00
and 11.00 h
