BRUSSELS, Belgium — The 96-meter (315-foot) spire of Brussels Town Hall dominates the skyline above Grand Place. The Gothic tower, completed in the 15th century, is crowned by a gilded statue of Saint Michael, Brussels' patron saint, vanquishing a dragon. This medieval masterpiece represents the pinnacle of Brabantine Gothic architecture and serves as the city's most recognizable landmark.
Photograph by David Coleman. Brussels Town Hall's soaring spire stands as the defining architectural feature of Grand Place (La Grand-Place in French, Grote Markt in Dutch). Completed in 1455, the tower rises 96 meters above the cobblestones, incorporating elaborate Gothic tracery and sculptural details characteristic of the Brabantine Gothic style. The spire's crowning glory, a 5-meter-tall copper statue of Saint Michael slaying a dragon, serves as both the city's weathervane and its historical symbol. This iconic representation of Brussels' patron saint was designed by Martin van Rode and installed in 1454. The Town Hall's asymmetrical tower, positioned slightly off-center from the building's facade, represents the architectural excellence of medieval guild craftsmen. The spire survived the French bombardment of 1695 that destroyed much of Grand Place, standing as a testimony to medieval engineering and architectural achievement. This landmark structure forms the centerpiece of the Grand Place UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1998.
Size: 4318px × 6470px
Location: Grand Place, Arrondissement Brussel-Hoofdstad, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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