Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is a glass-roofed shopping arcade in the centre of Brussels, Belgium, opened in 1847 and among the earliest covered arcades in Europe. It links Rue des Bouchers and the area near Grand Place with Rue du Marché aux Herbes and the streets towards Mont des Arts, and it is made up of the King's Gallery, the Queen's Gallery and a short connecting passage. A high glass and iron roof lets in daylight, while neoclassical facades with pilasters, arched windows and decorative stonework line both sides. The ground floor holds chocolatiers, glove makers, bookshops and cafés, and the upper floors have apartments and the Théâtre Royal des Galeries. For photographers, the arcade is best at midday, when the sun is high and light falls through the glass roof onto the floor and facades, with the long perspective down the gallery as the main composition. Shop windows add colour, and the geometry of the roof lines suits wide shots. Early in the morning the arcade is quiet, though many shops are still closed, while afternoons and weekends bring steady crowds of shoppers and visitors. A walk through takes only ten to fifteen minutes, but visitors often stay longer for chocolate and coffee. Entry is free and the arcade can be reached on foot in a few minutes from Grand Place or from Gare Centrale. It sits beside the Mont des Arts, so it fits into an easy walking route through central Brussels. At night the arcade is lit, and the shopfronts glow.