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Mont des Arts

Urban Complex and Historic Site of Brussels

The Mont des Arts is located in the heart of the city of Brussels, a historical art district that was created by King Leopold II. The area is home to the Royal Library, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, etc, and the terrace at the halfway point of the hill offers excellent views of the Brussels Town Hall and other landmarks.

The Mont des Arts is a historic art district in the heart of Brussels, with A Cityscape Terrace offering a panoramic view of the city’s landmarks such as the Brussels Town Hall and the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

The idea of building a “Mount of the Arts” came from King Leopold II, who planned to make the area around the palace an art district, but unfortunately, it was abandoned for a while due to a lack of funds and did not take shape until more than half a century later.

Manywhere Trivia:
As for African people, the art lover Leopold II was a notorious tyrant who took the Congo Free State for himself and imposed a tyrannical regime that resulted in the deaths of millions.

Just a two-minute walk from Brussels Central Station is the Albert I on Horseback Statue at the foot of Mont des Arts. Through the well-kept gardens, the Royal Library of Belgium and the Brussels Congress Palace stand on either side.

Stroll up the steps, where passionate street singers contrast with tourists lounging in chairs. On the way, you will an Art Sculpture, the Whirling Ear in the Fountain, which originally stood in front of the American pavilion at World Expo 58.

At the Place Royale (Koningsplein) top the hill, nine neoclassical buildings surround the square. For centuries, the area of the Place Royale has been home to the Palace of Coudenberg and Royal Palace of Brussels.

As Leopold II had hoped, the Mont des Arts today lives up to its name. It is surrounded by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Musical Instruments Museum, the Magritte Museum, and other cultural and artistic attractions.