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Kings of Spain: Brussels

PRINCIPAL CITIES.--Brussels, the capital city, is celebrated for its many ancient buildings, rich in architecture, and noted for their historical associations. In the new portion of the city are located the courts, the legislative assemblies, chamber of commerce, and the palace of the king. Many handsome streets adorn the new part of the city, and there are a large number of places of public interest, such as the Place Royale, Place de la Monnaie, with the mint, theatre, and exchange, the public library and museum; the ancient buildings, such as the Hotel de Ville, with a spire 364 ft. in height; several churches with rich sculptures and decorations, the finest being the Cathedral of Ste. Gudule, built in 1273; the Church of Notre Dame de la Chapelle, commenced in 1134; and the Notre Dame de la Victoire, of the 13th century. The Allee Verte, along the canal from Brussels to the Scheldt, is the finest promenade. It is laid out with avenues of trees, and ornamented with statues its entire distance. In 1830 this was the chief scene of the revolution. The public educational institutions are many, the art depositories and academies numerous, and the public library has over 234,000 volumes with 25,000 manuscripts. The national archives are replete with valuable documents connected with the history of the country. Brussels is a great manufacturing city. Its population is about 193,000; including 8 adjacent faubourgs, 398,800.

Antwerp is 25 m. N. of Brussels. Its history dates back to 726. It is an important commercial centre, about 8000 vessels annually entering and leaving the port. The Cathedral of Notre Dame here is one of the most beautiful churches in Belgium, one of its towers rising 403 ft., and it is the only church in Europe with 6 aisles. It contains 3 pictures by Rubens, his "Descent from the Cross," "Elevation of the Cross," and "Assumption." The tomb and family chapel of this painter are, however, in the Church of St. James. Antwerp has an academy of fine arts, a gallery of painting or museum, containing specimens by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian, Teniers and others; zoological and botanical gardens, etc. It was the birthplace of the celebrated artists Van Dyck, the two Teniers, Jordaens and other eminent painters.