Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries), Brussels (must see)
Often credited as Europe's first "mall", the stately Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries in Brussels is a remarkable example of a 19th-century covered shopping arcade. The concept of a shopping gallery originated in Paris during the 1780s when King Louis XIV leased parts of his garden to shopkeepers. Their outlets turned the space into a social and commercial hub that later developed into covered galleries for the affluent.
Brussels saw the creation of seven such galleries during the 1820s and 1830s, yet the Saint-Hubert Galleries 鈥� designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar 鈥� is among the fortunate three that have endured the test of time. Officially inaugurated in 1847 by King Leopold I, the galleries quickly became a beloved haunt of the rich, offering a luxurious shopping and caf茅 experience regardless of weather. As such, they were precursors to other 19th-century European shopping venues like Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Passage in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Characterized by their Italianate Cinquecento style, the galleries feature glazed-arched shopfronts separated by pilasters beneath a glass-paneled roof with cast-iron framework. A deliberate bend in the galleries adds visual interest to the otherwise long, repetitive perspective. The covered structure is made up of two main sections, known as the King's Gallery and the Queen's Gallery, each measuring 8 meters (or 26 feet) in width and 213 meters (or 700 feet) in length, and a smaller side segment dubbed the Prince's Gallery.
In the past, the site hosted significant cultural developments like the first public showing of the Lumi猫re brothers' moving pictures in 1896, and today houses among other attractions the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts and the Royal Theatre of the Galleries (inside The King's Gallery). The Queen's Gallery is best known for shops like Delvaux, specializing in leather goods, and Neuhaus, the pharmacy-turned-chocolatier renowned for creating the praline, which first opened its doors in 1857. It also houses the popular Passage Tavern restaurant. The Prince's Gallery, in turn, is home to the exquisite Tropismes bookstore.
The Galleries were designated a historic monument in 1986 while also being considered for World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Tip:
Climb to the top floor of the Le Pain Quotidien restaurant (whose name translates to 'The Daily Bread') for an elevated perspective and a unique view from the upper part of the galleries.
Brussels saw the creation of seven such galleries during the 1820s and 1830s, yet the Saint-Hubert Galleries 鈥� designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar 鈥� is among the fortunate three that have endured the test of time. Officially inaugurated in 1847 by King Leopold I, the galleries quickly became a beloved haunt of the rich, offering a luxurious shopping and caf茅 experience regardless of weather. As such, they were precursors to other 19th-century European shopping venues like Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Passage in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Characterized by their Italianate Cinquecento style, the galleries feature glazed-arched shopfronts separated by pilasters beneath a glass-paneled roof with cast-iron framework. A deliberate bend in the galleries adds visual interest to the otherwise long, repetitive perspective. The covered structure is made up of two main sections, known as the King's Gallery and the Queen's Gallery, each measuring 8 meters (or 26 feet) in width and 213 meters (or 700 feet) in length, and a smaller side segment dubbed the Prince's Gallery.
In the past, the site hosted significant cultural developments like the first public showing of the Lumi猫re brothers' moving pictures in 1896, and today houses among other attractions the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts and the Royal Theatre of the Galleries (inside The King's Gallery). The Queen's Gallery is best known for shops like Delvaux, specializing in leather goods, and Neuhaus, the pharmacy-turned-chocolatier renowned for creating the praline, which first opened its doors in 1857. It also houses the popular Passage Tavern restaurant. The Prince's Gallery, in turn, is home to the exquisite Tropismes bookstore.
The Galleries were designated a historic monument in 1986 while also being considered for World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Tip:
Climb to the top floor of the Le Pain Quotidien restaurant (whose name translates to 'The Daily Bread') for an elevated perspective and a unique view from the upper part of the galleries.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Brussels. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries) on Map
Sight Name: Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries)
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Brussels, Belgium
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Brussels is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Begin your exploration with the EU鈥檚 most symbolic construction, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Begin your exploration with the EU鈥檚 most symbolic construction, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
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Nowadays a major center for international politics, the capital of Belgium, Brussels, is often referred to as the "Crossroads of Europe". Indeed, nestled at the heart of the continent, this city has a history closely linked to that of Western Europe. Repeatedly changing hands between various duchies, empires, republics, and kingdoms, it has evolved from a small rural settlement to an... view more
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Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
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Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
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Start your journey by traveling towards the old part of the city, where you鈥檒l find the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, greatly admired... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Start your journey by traveling towards the old part of the city, where you鈥檒l find the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, greatly admired... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Brussels Beer Tour
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Grand Place Walking Tour
World-famous for its imposing Baroque-style buildings, such as the Town Hall, the King's House and the House of Dukes, the Grand Place of Brussels a whole is indisputably a masterpiece of human creative genius, with a special quality of homogeneity and coherency.
The buildings around the Grand Place, all different but built within a very short period, admirably illustrate the Baroque... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.3 Km or 0.2 Miles
The buildings around the Grand Place, all different but built within a very short period, admirably illustrate the Baroque... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.3 Km or 0.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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