BRUS'SELS (Fr. Bruxelles, Med. Lat. Bros ella. later Bruocsella, Bruxella, from MI111. bruoch, Oer. Bruoilt, marsh, hog, AS. broc, stream, Engl. brook + Lat. sella, seat. Bruocsella having been the residence of the Duke of Lotharingia, or Lorraine, in a marshy locality). The capi tal of Belgium, as well as of the Province of Brabant, situated in the centre of the coun try, on the river Senne (Map: Belgium, C 4). Due to its uneven site, the city is divided into the upper and the lower towns. The former is the fashionable part of the city, and is essen tially modern in its appearance, the French language being chiefly spoken; the latter town, de'oted mainly to business, still retains some of the original Flemish picturesqueness, to gether with the Flemish tongue. The municipal authorities are as deeply concerned with the artistic aspect of the capital as with the acquisi tion and control of the municipal works. As a result, Brus$els, with its magnifieent parks, well shaded boulevards, and splendid squares, is con sidered one of the finest cities in Europe, and justly deserves the name 'Petit Paris.' It was formerly surrounded by strong walls, which have been converted into broad avenues and pleasure grounds. The Verte—a double street along the Scheldt Canal—forms a splendid promenade, and leads toward the Palace of Laeken, the suburban residence of the royal family, 3 miles north of the city. Besides these outer boule vards, which encircle the city, are several inner boulevards, recently constructed at a consider able expense. In the upper town the most mag nificent park is near the royal palace. Of the city squares, the most noteworthy are the Place Royale. with its colossal monument of Godfrey of Bouillon: the Grande Place, in which is the ritel de Ville, where in 1568 the patriot counts, Egmont and lIorn, were beheaded by order of the Duke of Alba ; the Place des Martyrs, with a memorial erected to those who fell here in the Revolution of 1830: the Place du Grand Sablon, with its adjacent Place du Petit Sablon, orna mented by an inelosure containing several stat ues of scientists and authors: the Place du Con gres, having a column 146 feet high. surmounted by a bronze statue of King Leopold I.; and the Place Sainte Gudule, containing the famous cathedral of the same name.
Among the ecclesiastical buildings, the Cathe dral of Sainte Gudule ranks first. It is an im
posing structure in early Gothic style, begun about 1220, on the site of an old church. It is famous chiefly for its magnificent windows of stained glass. belonging to different periods since the Thirteenth Century. The two towers on both sides and the statuettes of the portal are of a recent date. The cathedral contains nu merous monuments of the royal family. Notre Dame des Victoires or du Sablon was originally constructed in the early Fourteenth Century, was completely rebuilt in the Fifteenth and Six teenth centuries, and is now being restored. Other prominent churches are Notre Dame de Finistere and Saint Jacques sur Caudenberg, with a copper-roofed belfry. The finest speci mens of architecture, however. are found in the secular edifices of Brussels. among which the Dote] de Ville comes first. It is in the Gothic style, and its facade. fronting the market, is profusely adorned with statuary. In the centre rises the tower, 370 feet, surmounted by a gilt statue of Saint Michael, the city's patron saint. The front part of the building dates from the Fif teenth Century: the rear portion was reconstruct ed in the Eighteenth Century. after the French had destroyed the original structure in 1695. The royal palace stands south of the park. and contains pictures by Rubens, Vandyke, and Frans Hals. On the north side of the park is situated the Palais de in Nation, erected at the close of the Eighteenth Century for the Council of Bra bant. It is now used by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Palais des Acade mies, formerly belonging to the Prince of Orange, is in the Italian style. and houses the Academie Royale des Lettres, Beaux-Arts et Sci ences, and the Academie Royale de Medecine. The Palais d'Areuberg dates from the Sixteenth Century, and has a pieture-gallery containing examples of Rubens. Vandyke, Rembrandt, Te niers, and Frans Hals. The largest structure of modern times is the Palais de Justice, begun in 1866 and inaugurated in 1883, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Belgium's rode-• pendence. It is in the Grxeo-Roman style, and covers a site of 590 feet by 500. Pyramidal in shape, it culminates in a dome with a cross. Brussels has a number of markets, and the Place Grande contains several guild-houses de voted to the use of various trades.