Mont des Arts Gardens

The Mont des Arts Gardens are a symmetrical terraced garden on the slope between the Lower Town and the Upper Town of Brussels, Belgium, close to the Place Royale and the Royal Library. Laid out in formal lines, the gardens descend in a series of steps, fountains and lawns, framed by clipped hedges and low walls. Their main appeal for photographers is the skyline: from the upper terrace, the view runs over the rooftops of the Lower Town toward the spire of the Town Hall at Grand Place, with the city spread out in the distance. The symmetry of the garden itself, with its central axis and matching beds, suits balanced compositions, and the carillon clock on the side building adds interest at the hour. Late afternoon is the best time, when the light falls across the skyline and warms the stonework. Early mornings are calm, whereas lunchtime and weekends bring office workers and tourists to the benches and steps. A walk through the gardens takes around 15 to 30 minutes, though many visitors stay longer for the view. The gardens are free and open at all hours. They are a five-minute walk from Parc or Gare Centrale on metro lines 1 and 5, and they sit close to the Magritte Museum, the Coudenberg site and the Musical Instruments Museum. This makes the Mont des Arts an easy stop in a day of sightseeing in the Upper Town. Sunset can be especially atmospheric when the sky behind the Town Hall spire colours.