Mont des Arts and Coudenberg Palace Archaeological Site

The Mont des Arts and the Coudenberg Palace Archaeological Site lie on the slope between the Lower Town and the Upper Town of Brussels, Belgium. The Mont des Arts is a terraced garden with fountains, steps and a carillon clock on the Old England-facing side, laid out in the twentieth century and linking Brussels Central Station with Place Royale and the Royal Library. From its upper terrace, visitors see the Town Hall spire and the rooftops of the Lower Town, a favourite vantage point at sunset. Just uphill, below Place Royale, the Coudenberg site preserves the underground remains of the Palace of the Dukes of Brabant, later the residence of Charles V, which burned in 1731. Visitors descend into vaulted cellars and walk along reconstructed medieval streets such as Rue Isabelle, the Aula Magna hall and the foundations, with exhibitions and audiovisual displays explaining the history. The visit lasts about an hour and costs approximately 10 euros, with free access for young visitors. The site opens Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00, with Monday closure. The gardens are open daily without charge. Weekday mornings are quiet at Coudenberg, while the gardens fill on sunny afternoons and weekends. For photographs, the top terrace of the Mont des Arts gives the best view of the Grand Place tower, and the evening light is particularly good. Metro 1/5 to Parc or Gare Centrale leads to the area within five minutes on foot, and the Magritte Museum and the Museum of Musical Instruments are a short walk away.