The best walks and hikes around Schaerbeek

Fun story (can’t vouch for accuracy) - the black brickwork was an intentional contrast to rest of square to scare people into paying their taxes! Love it!

History The first "Grand théâtre de la Monnaie" was opened in 1700. In 1819, however, it was demolished and rebuilt on the current site by the French architect Louis-Emmanuel Aimé-Damesne. But in a fierce fire on January 21, 1855, the building was completely reduced to ashes; only the four outer walls remained standing. Fortunately, the Royal Opera House was rebuilt very quickly. Joseph Poelaert was responsible for the design of the new building and for the complete interior decoration. In 1856, the new Royal Opera House opened its doors. The most recent major renovation dates from 1985. At that time, the stage tower was completely rebuilt, and the building was extended with an upper volume. Source: https://www.regiedergebouwen.be/nl/projects/koninklijke-muntschouwburg

Opposite the Zavel church lies the Kleine Zavel square, one of the architectural gems of Brussels city center. In this neo-Renaissance style garden, there is also a group of sculptures by the greatest Belgian artists of the nineteenth century. In the 1880s, the mayor of Brussels, Charles Buls, proposed to embellish the district and transform the square into a seductively beautiful garden, which was opened to the public in 1890. The symmetrical flowerbeds lead to a raised fountain, whose circular water basin is dominated by the sculpture of the counts of Egmont and Hoorn. Behind it, two arched staircases lead to the Egmont Palace. The plantings have a symbolic function: the nine beds with pruned boxwood that frame the lawn represent the nine provinces that Belgium counted at the time. Another flowerbed in the shape of a crown symbolizes Belgium. Around the Kleine Zavel runs a very beautiful wrought-iron fence, consisting of panels with varied motifs and columns. Source: https://gardens.brussels/nl/groene-ruimten/kleine-zavelsquare

An impressive building with a mix of many styles. A must-see!

The church was built between 1776 and 1787 by the architects Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and Louis Montoyer. Its style can be described as Neoclassical. In the 19th century, a dome and a bell tower were added, resulting in the church's present appearance.

The park is designed in the Flemish Neo-Renaissance style and laid out as an open-air museum with numerous statues and symbolic elements. The central feature is the monument in the park honoring Counts Egmont and Hoorn, who were beheaded in the 16th century for their resistance against Spanish rule. Also located here are: 48 guild statues, 10 humanist statues, and the adjacent Church of Notre-Dame du Sablon.

The highlight of Brussels is the old market square, which, if you don't know better, could have been created by AI. Every house surrounding the market square creates a beautiful overall picture.

The theater is known as the royal opera house and has a varied history: The first theater was built around 1700 and by 1800 was one of the most beautiful in Europe. It was expanded in 1818 and reopened in 1819. A fire destroyed the theater in 1855, and the current building was constructed in 1866. A major and extensive renovation took place in 1985. The opera house, in particular, is magnificent and beautiful. This opera house is so important that it is one of the most renowned in Europe.