Beneath the City of Brussels

A journey below the streets of Brussels will treat you to an inside look at the historic beginnings to the Capital of Belgium     . . . 

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Coudenberg Palace, or Palais du Coudenberg in French, is the archaeological site that showcases the original walls and foundations of the Belgian Royal Palace and surrounding buildings, many of which date back to the 12th century. 

At the Palace museum entrance you will have your choice of going upstairs to see the Belvue exhibit which showcases furnishings and fine art of a time period long passed or venturing downward to explore the Coudenberg ruins. I have long been intrigued by the cool dark environment of the world that lies below our surface, so I chose the more adventurous option.

At the bottom of the stairs is what looks like a dungeon door. The automatic door opens signifying the beginning of your journey. Afters you enter it soon closes behind, leaving you to question your fate as you notice the latrine cesspool located immediately to your right. 

There are many other interesting features down here, each with a story to tell. As you make your way through this labyrinth of archaeology, there are educational sign posts explaining exactly what it is that you are viewing. You can even use WIFI on your phone to hear the complete audio tour for further explanation. 

Along the way there are interesting sights like tiny alcoves and large vault rooms allowing you to catch a glimpse of Rue Isabelle up above. You will see areas that once served as cellars that have been used throughout the ages. One of the most picturesque structures you will encounter in this archaeological landscape is the octagonal pillars that functioned as support for the chapel. 

Octagonal Support Pillars

As I continued to stroll this urban underworld, I became comfortable down here. It is quite pleasant in a creepy kind of way. Time seems to stand still and you can quickly become drawn deeper ... exploring, learning, and experiencing realms of the past.

During your visit you may encounter areas that are closed off. Keep in mind this is a functioning archaeological site, so workers may be present working on further excavations that will soon add expanding this interesting historic experience. 

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If you would like to take a walk through time,
​you can follow me along on this journey in the video below.

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