First enclosure of Brussels

The time of the beginning of the construction of the first enclosure of Brussels is estimated at the beginning of the 13th century under the reign of Henri Ier of the Brabant, count of Leuwen and first Duc of the Brabant, but the construction could be spread out during several decades. Thanks to the old plans and other documents, like with the preserved vestiges, the layout of the ramparts is perfectly known. Of a 4 kilometers length, the enclosure includes on the one hand the first place of urban development, the Saint-Gery island and the first port in edge of Senne and on the other hand the hills of Treurenberg with the Romance first collegial Saint-Michel-and-Gudule (11th century) and of Coudenberg with the ducal castle.

The enclosure, built using stones and of ground, is made up of pillars with square section spaced of approximately four meters and connected to each other by arcades buried in a slope and surmounted of a bored wall of loopholes. One second series of arcades supports the covered way protected by a parapet with crenels. The defense of the wall is supplemented by forty turns and a broad ditch which could be flooded in certain parts of the city. The access to the city being ensured by seven principal doors and five secondary counters.

Very quickly, the city feels with narrow in its walls, of the hamlets are built out of the walls. After the death of Jean III of the Brabant (1355) and the conflict of succession which results from it, the count Louis II of Flanders invades Brussels. Thanks to the revolt carried out by Everard you Serclaes, the Flemish S are driven out and the Brabançons take again the city.

Following this episode, it will be decided the construction of the Second enclosure of Brussels which will increase the extent of the city considerably.

The two fortifications coexisted a long time. The dismantling of the pregnant first is spread out according to the districts of.

Principal vestiges

In spite of the demolitions, the vestiges of the first enclosure are not unimportant. One counts the elements of eight turns and good ten walls as well as the traces of two doors. The majority have escaped with the pickaxe thanks to their integration during time in other constructions as foundations or walls of houses or buildings. So some were released and are today visible public highway, the majority are not accessible.

the curtain of Villers and the tower Saint-Jacob : long wall section between the street of Alexiens (extra-muros) where it is visible only of one schoolyard, and the street of Villers where the line of small houses which leant to with it were demolished. The curtain still carries the traces of its old integration in the residences, fenestrates bored or opturées arches.

the black tower : located behind the church Holy-Catherine. The demolition of this part of the enclosure dates from the 16th century during installation of new basins of the wearing of Brussels connected to the channel, the tower used as warehouse was saved. Closed down, hidden by new constructions, one ends up forgetting it to redécouvrir it in 1887 at the time of the demolition of the district of the black Virgin. Threatened of demolition, the town council of the Town of Brussels, under the impulse of the first defenders of the inheritance and the burgomaster Charles bulldozers, voted his restoration. The architect of the city transformed it according to the idea that one was done at the time of medieval architecture, affublant it of a surmounted conical roof of a wind vane.

the tower of angle or turn Anneessens : visible boulevard of the Emperor, was the first tower close to the door which defended the High Rue, the Steenpoort which was used then as prison. The arcs of the foundations are completely disengaged from the ground, which makes it appear higher than it was not at the time. Demolitions for the construction of the Junction North-Midday one entirely released.

the curtain of Treurenberg and the tower of Pléban : this part of the enclosure which surrounded the collegial one Saint-Michel-and-Gudule is preserved perfectly in the gardens of the houses of the street of wild Wood, behind the cathedral. In the garden of the cure, the tower was disengaged from the more recent walls which transformed it into storeroom. The five restored arcades are still connected to the traces of the door of the Treurenberg, demolished in 1760.

As for the large visible section of wall in the hall of a hotel of the street Ditch-with-Wolves, it is acted in fact of a rebuilding closer to tourist attraction than of the historic building.

See too

Random links: