Coudenberg Palace Brussels

COUDENBERG PALACE BRUSSELS

From Medieval Castle to Archaeological Site

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION: Vincent Heymans

COORDINATION: Laetitia Cnockaert and Frédérique Honoré

AUTHORS: P. Anagnostopoulos, A. Buyle, P. Charruadas, L. Cnockaert, M. de Waha, S. Demeter, Y. Devos, C. Dickstein-Bernard, A. Dierkens, M. Fourny, C. Gaier, M. Galand, D. Guilardian, S. Guri, V. Heymans, J. Houssiau, J.-P. Huys, C. Loir, P. Lombaerde, M. Meganck, S. Modrie, C. Paredes, P. Sosnowska, S. van Sprang, B. Vannieuwenhuyze, A. Vanrie This publication has been produced by the Palais de Charles Quint ASBL, a non proﬁt-making organisation, on the initiative of the Brussels Capital Region and the City of Brussels

Scientiﬁc direction: Vincent Heymans

Coordination: Laetitia Cnockaert and Frédérique Honoré

Authors: Pierre Anagnostopoulos, Anne Buyle, Paulo Charruadas, Laetitia Cnockaert, Michel de Waha, Stéphane Demeter, Yannick Devos, Claire Dickstein-Bernard, Alain Dierkens, Michel Fourny, Claude Gaier, Michèle Galand, David Guilardian, Shipé Guri, Vincent Heymans, Jean Houssiau, Jean-Philippe Huys, Christophe Loir, Piet Lombaerde, Marc Meganck, Sylvianne Modrie, Cecilia Paredes, Philippe Sosnowska, Sabine van Sprang, Bram Vannieuwenhuyze, André Vanrie Their titles and institutions are given at the end of the book

Scientiﬁc committee: Vincent Heymans (President), Pierre-Paul Bonenfant †, Marcel Celis, Stéphane Demeter, Alain Dierkens, Michel Fourny, Sylvianne Modrie, Anne Vandenbulcke, André Vanrie

The scientiﬁc committee very much regrets that one of its members passed away during preparation of the work: Professor Pierre-Paul Bonenfant, President of the Société royale d’Archéologie de Bruxelles, who was involved in this enterprise from the beginning. His death deprived the editorial team of his contribution to the chapters relating to the archaeological excavations

Board of directors : Stéphane Demeter (President), Anne Vandenbulcke (Vice-president), Pierre-Paul Bonenfant †, Michel Burstin †, Geoffroy Coomans de Brachène, Laurent Delvaux, Jean-Pierre Demeure, Anne de San, Alain Dierkens, Michel Fourny, Edgard Goedleven, Vincent Heymans, Pascale Ingelaere, Tom Sanders, Freddy Thielemans, Anne Tiebault, Michel Van Roye, Thierry Wauters

Translation: Gitracom (Veronica Kelly, Charles Lucas, Laura Williams), Miles Translation, Áine Pedersen Proofreading: Kathie Berger, Áine Pedersen

Graphic designer: Mardaga, Véronique Lux

Printing: Snel, Vottem

Cover page: Cellar of the former palace main building, as seen at the Coudenberg archaeological site. Photo M. Vanhulst (2009) / Curia Brabantiae, in celebri et populosa Urbe Bruxellis, engraving by Claes Jansz. Visscher from a drawing by Jean Van de Velde, 17th century / Red earthenware jug, 17th century.

D. 2014-0024-2 ISBN 978-2-8047-0157-4 CHAPTER %&

FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE TO THE ROYAL QUARTER

Michèle G!"!#$

Since my arrival in this country it has always pained me to see the afﬂicting spectacle afforded by the tumble-down walls of the palace which served in other days as the residence of the sovereign princes of the Low Countries, and which was reduced to ashes in 1731.1

RECONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR THE PALACE Dutch. And the States also asked to be allowed to organise lotteries in the Austrian Netherlands. As For every observer studying the history of the pal- this would take time, it would be advisable to find ace on the Coudenberg, destroyed by the disastrous other, quicker means to rebuild the Brussels palace. fire of 3 February 1731, one crucial question arises: Unfortunately, however, it was not a good time for why did more than forty years have to go by before expenditure on ceremonial. a solution emerged and a new use was finally found Nevertheless, the plan to rebuild the palace was for the abandoned area? To answer this question not abandoned, as can be seen from the different we need to examine the chronology of events and designs preserved in Brussels and in Vienna: the review the plans that were drawn up in the inter- architectural plans drawn up by Royet, by Hano- vening period. teau and by the court architect, Anneessens, are The blaze struck with devastating effect on 3 Feb- all evidence of this intention of the government.4 ruary, leaving the palace in a sorry state and forc- But the pace was very slow, because the Brus- ing its occupants – including the governess-general, sels government alone could not possibly support Archduchess Maria Elisabeth – to seek refuge else- such expenditure, and it needed time to negotiate where.2 The archduchess moved into the Orange- with the country’s wealthy abbeys. Then, too, the Nassau palace, close by, in the upper part of the city. years that followed were marked by the start of a Only the chapel survived the catastrophe. It would Europe-wide conflict, which meant that all dreams again be used for religious services, and would con- of beautifying Brussels were postponed: the War of tinue to be maintained until it was decided, in 1774, the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) broke out and to demolish it in order to build the Royal Quarter. soon involved the Netherlands, which were occu- Very soon, meetings were held to seek a solution pied by France from 1745 to 1748. and restore the Brussels palace. The Viennese au- Once the Austrian regime returned in 1748, the thorities were kept informed of the content of the government of Brussels was governed by the broth- discussions.3 The main obstacle was financial as – at er-in-law of Empress Maria Theresa, Prince Charles a time when the public finances were in such piti- Alexander of Lorraine, who had only been able to ful condition that government employees were not stay a few weeks in Brussels in 1744. Like Archduch- paid regularly – the government was unable to dis- ess Maria Elisabeth, he lived in the Nassau palace. burse large sums. In May 1731 the rebuilding pro- In 1751 he recounted to the Viennese authorities ject was discussed in the Council of State, in the his lack of success in involving the States in paying presence of the governess-general. Opinion was for the rebuilding of the Brussels palace. The States divided as to what funds should be employed, but had apologised for their inability to contribute, and in the end it was decided to approach the States of had asked for the issue to be postponed to a better Brabant. Maria Elisabeth wrote to them on 16 June time. Since it still did not seem possible to restore 1731. In their reply, dated 11 October, they proposed the palace, Duke Silva Tarouca, the president of the finding extraordinary resources for the reconstruc- Supreme Council in Vienna, merely made an oral Õ Anonymous plan for a tion: 500,000 florins could be allocated to it, taken report of the situation, and the issue remained in palace on the Coudenberg, 5 1751. from the loan given by the States to reimburse the abeyance. A document preserved in the Chamber

278 ÕAnonymous, undated view of the "Burnt Court". The Aula Magna can be seen on the left, with the monumental steps leading up to it.

ØA. Royet, reconstruction plan for the Burnt Court, mid-18th century.

!". FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE TO THE ROYAL QUARTER 279 C. J. Hanoteau d’Enghien, reconstruction plan for the Burnt Court, mid-18th century.

of Accounts, probably drafted at the same period, THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF highlights the well-developed project to persuade THE FORMER ORANGE'NASSAU HOUSE the abbeys, the nobles, government officials and the military to contribute to the restoration of the pal- A few days after the new alliance was announced, ace in Brussels so as not to leave the royal residence on 18 June 1756, Charles of Lorraine purchased the any longer buried beneath its ruins and hovels for for- Nassau palace, which he had been renting since eigners to gaze at and be scandalised by.6 1744, from the dowager princess of Orange.10 This The diplomatic situation was actually very un- purchase was to result in far-reaching changes to stable at the time, and in 1755 a new international the subsequent plans for the burnt-out Court, as war loomed. In Brussels, the threat of invasion by the prince had now chosen his new residence and French troops forced even the government to pre- would spend large sums of money on renovating pare to leave the Netherlands.7 Hope returned only it.11 This decision merely set the seal on the de facto with the signing of the 1st Treaty of Versailles, on situation: since the fire, court and government were 1 May 1756, sealing the reversal of the alliances: no longer contained within the same walls. France and Austria were now reconciled, which re- leased the Brussels authorities from the anguish of the previous weeks.8 Thanks to this diplomatic rev- PLANS FOR A BUILDING TO HOUSE THE olution, the Austrian Netherlands would be spared MAIN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS the Seven Years’ War, declared soon after that. Un- like Austria and the German hereditary lands they Events and the need to provide for the preserva- would enjoy a lengthy period of peace leading to tion of the state papers prompted the Brussels au- economic prosperity. During the conflict, however, thorities to remind Vienna of the need to establish the “Belgium provinces” (“provinces belgiques”) were a new administrative building in Brussels. The fact pressingly solicited, and they supported the Haps- was that the Tour des Chartes, which housed the burg monarchy’s war effort by granting subsidies Chamber of Accounts and its precious archives, was and free gifts.9 in danger of collapsing, despite repairs made after the earthquake damage it had suffered in 1761, so that there was no choice but to demolish it.12

Jean-André Anneessens, reconstruction plan for the Burnt Court, mid-18th century.

282 The governor and minister took advantage of the fact that a French architect, Charles François Ro- land Le Virloys (designor of the theatre in Metz), was passing through Brussels to ask him to draw plans for a building to house the Chamber of Ac- counts, the Collateral Councils and their documents. The building should be constructed entirely without wood in either floors or roof. It was to be vaulted, to prevent the risk of fire. The cost of the work would amount to some 300,500 florins; by using the debris from the Chamber of Accounts tower, and from the burnt-out Court, costs could be kept to a minimum. As it was estimated that the work would take three years, the expenditure could be spread out so that its impact would be felt as little as possible. In a later publication the architect alluded to this building which was to have been erected on the Place de Louvain.13 Even before the official report was sent on 5 July, Cobenzl, the plen- Vienna.19 And sure enough, the chancellor rejected The “Burnt Court” on a map ipotentiary minister, took it on himself to inform the suggestion, explaining to Maria Theresa: Now of Brussels, circa 1750. Chancellor Kaunitz of this ambitious project.14 The less than ever do I think it appropriate to initiate a latter immediately dampened his enthusiasm, wor- building on this scale.20 In his private correspondence ried by the cost: with Cobenzl he ended up by giving an unequivo- Knowing that building in Brusselles is very dear and, cal response on the subject: conversant as I am with architects’ estimates, I believe I I know, Monsieur, that you lack good architects and can predict that you will not execute this building with I know too that in your country there will be no more five or six hundred thousand florins. It would undoubt- economy in buildings than there has been in various edly be an expense well above what our finances could enterprises that have been undertaken on behalf of Her sustain. Our debts, and a body of troops of twenty-five Majesty. Now this building, such as it would have to thousand men to feed, are two items that clash furiously be in order to meet the objectives proposed, would be a with a desire to house papers in magnificent style.15 matter of the greatest consequence, and yet it appears Kaunitz suggested renting a house in Brussels that on this matter there has been a willingness to listen and having it vaulted, rather than envisaging this to the proposals of a man like Savoet. My dear Count, building work in such uncertain times. It was obvi- I speak to you bluntly: after that, what opinion do you ous that the project was not compatible with the expect me to form of the management body that will have financial difficulties facing Austria in those years of to preside over such an important enterprise? When I see war, and despite his determination, Cobenzl had to you consulting men like Virelois, and Savoet, however abandon the enterprise, at least for the time being.16 much of an upright man the latter may be, when I ob- The need to preserve the archives led the Brussels serve that, despite the repugnance we, here, have more government to raise the need for a suitable build- than once evinced at the idea of incurring such expense, ing once again in November 1763.17 As there could you over there are always bringing it up for discussion be no question of going back to the idea put for- again, and you do not appear to be too concerned with ward in 1761, Charles of Lorraine proposed having seeking or proposing to us possible resources that might designs drawn for a small building to store the pa- be found to fund it, I believe I am entitled to infer from pers safely. In August 1764 Cobenzl had to give an this that a desire to build may perhaps be as much part account of his actions, and he admitted that Savoet, of this project as the need to do so. the architect, was preparing a design at the request Would there not therefore be some way of adapting of the Finance Council. He immediately reassured one or other of the houses on our estates to be a reposi- the chancellor by explaining that this construction tory for our archives, even if we spent a certain amount project would be placed under the supervision of this would still be well below what a completely new the government, not the architect, once every pre- building would require, would it not be possible to re- caution had been taken in relation to its quality build and adapt part of the burnt-out Court?21 and cost.18 A few months later, on 7 January 1765, Kaunitz exhorted the plenipotentiary minister minister Cobenzl again raised the costly idea of a to put forward no new projects until the value of large building, although he foresaw a refusal from the houses owned by the state – and what income

!". FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE TO THE ROYAL QUARTER 283 might be derived from their sale if none of them tirely satisfactory), and one – more costly, admitted- could house the archives – were known. The plan ly, but with a better layout – by the court architect, for a new building would have to be accompanied Laurent-Benoît Dewez. The governor-general indi- by a precise estimate of the expenditure involved, cated his preference for the second. This involved justification for the sums to be allocated to it, and purchasing and renovating Granvelle Palace on Rue some indications regarding management of the des Sols. After reiterating the reservations that had project and how long it would take to complete. previously enabled him to defer all expenditure un- In his reply, Cobenzl gave interesting informa- til less stormy times, chancellor Kaunitz felt that this tion about how the project was evolving: he had project should be considered.28 The Councils’ own followed it closely and had abandoned the idea building (the Councils’ House) was in such a dilapi- of calling on Virloys, only to turn to Savoet, an dated condition that no further delay was possible. architect who is recognised as a good worker and an Aware of the urgency, Maria Theresa acquiesced, upright man.22 His plan was submitted to the Col- but she added: lateral Councils and the Chamber of Accounts.23 I have heard a great deal about the site of the old With this concrete projet, the minister next turned burnt-out palace: by designing an overall plan for it, to an architect who built with taste and with order eight one could gradually put back not just the castle but, as or ten of our abbeys, asking him to prepare another the site is very large, [and] the land belonging to me, plan. This architect, unnamed, was clearly Laurent- one would not need to buy more or to knock down any Benoît Dewez, who was appointed court architect houses, one could, reserving room for the palace, start in 1767 and who had rebuilt several abbeys in the on the other buildings to be used both for the Chamber region in the neoclassical style.24 Once this second and for all the other offices, and although I do not at all project had been settled on, Cobenzl proposed to expect to be able to see such plans completed, I would be draw up an itemised list of expenditure so that the very glad for them to be drawn up or for a project to be chancellor could estimate to within a thousand flor- prepared for me.29 ins what this urgently needed building would cost. To comply with this wish, Cobenzl turned to his The plan to build a mansion for the government protégé, Gilles-Barnabé Guimard, a French archi- thus remained on the table and, even though once tect living in the Austrian Netherlands since the again the chancellor sounded extremely severe, it early 1760s, and whose taste for the neoclassical was noticed that the idea of this project was not style the minister shared.30 He was commissioned rejected out of hand as in 1761. The war had been to draw up plans to restore the burnt-out Court, over for two years, and thoughts could turn to seek- but the project came to nothing. Guimard, how- ing a home for the Brussels government, even if ever, was involved in the later work on the Royal Vienna was still trying to delay these costly works. Quarter. While the idea of rehabilitating the burnt-out Court was still dear to Maria Theresa in 1768, things had changed in Brussels since the fire and ACQUIRING AND MODERNISING other solutions had emerged. Charles of Lorraine GRANVELLE PALACE had invested large sums in renovating Nassau palace, making building a new palace less urgent, and On 22 May 1768 Charles of Lorraine presented to the Collateral Councils had an imperative need, Maria Theresa the fruit of the discussions in Brus- without delay, for salubrious premises. Informed of sels about constructing a new building to house these last suggestions made by the sovereign, Baron the Collateral Councils, the Chamber of Accounts Cazier, treasurer-general of the Finance Council, and the government archives.25 Count Cobenzl for emphasised the urgent need to rehouse the council, his part wrote to Kaunitz to support the initiative. and he called for the large building it occupied to The government authorities followed all the proper be purchased immediately so that it could be reno- procedures when submitting this proposal because, vated and the council could stay there until its new after the mishaps that had befallen the Chamber of building in the upper part of town was rebuilt.31 Accounts, the Finance Council had now also been This option was adopted and, once the building had forced to take refuge in the Lotto House for its been bought, Laurent-Benoît Dewez was appointed working sessions. The premises at Granvelle Palace to build a new wing near the Rue des Sols.32 This had become too dangerous, despite the reinforce- meant that re-establishing the central institutions ments to the building.26 Two different plans had on the site of the burnt-out Court was no longer a been commissioned: one from Savoet the supervi- priority, it was now possible to envisage using the sor of court works and his son27 (apparently not en- site in a completely different way.

284 DEVELOPING THE PLACE ROYALE idea of creating just a simple esplanade. The prefer- General plan of the Place AND BRUSSELS PARK ence now was tending towards a square at whose Royale, attributed to J. B. Barré, 1775. centre would be placed the statue of Charles of Lor- From then on, things began to move quickly: in raine presented to him by the States of Brabant in 1769 the Duke of Ursel, the military governor of 1769, to mark the 25th year of his government. Brussels, suggested creating an esplanade for the The initiative for this square at Place Royale, and garrison’s use on the Place des Bailles This proposal then for the Royal Quarter, came from the Prince was discussed, and then the question of what to do of Starhemberg, appointed plenipotentiary min- with the burnt-out Court became a very real one. In ister in 1770. It was he who finally succeeded in his memorandum dated 28 June 1774, the assistant putting an end to all the years of hesitation, caused supervisor at the Office of Court Works, Baudour, chiefly by the vicissitudes of war and the attendant observed that: financial difficulties. The energy expended by his It may be regarded as certain that there will no longer predecessor, Count Cobenzl, on restoring the city be any question of rebuilding the old palace, or at least of Brussels to its former glory is well known. The never on the site where its ruins still are. Any doubt one various proposals mentioned were prompted by might conceive on this point will always be an obstacle his pragmatic attitude, and it was in the same spirit to discussions which it will be difficult to overcome.33 that in 1769 he formed the idea of designing a new In the memorandum, the chapel, for which the square in which to erect the statue dedicated to the construction of a new facade was being envisaged, Prince of Lorraine, proposing to knock down the was not to be demolished. church of St Nicholas, in the city centre, and the Thus it was decided to knock down the ruins of surrounding houses. According to Starhemberg, the burnt-out Court – and to go beyond the original the project put forward by Cobenzl would have

!". FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE TO THE ROYAL QUARTER 285 View of the Place Royale made it possible to clear some space and would, if Brussels by Archduke Maximilian, Maria Theresa’s from the Montagne de necessary, have provided extra room for the markets youngest son. To avoid wasting time on a series of la Cour shortly after it was completed. Coloured which are a little squeezed, but it would have been consultations with the Finance Council, as would engraving by A. Rooland and very costly and would have created a good many have been customary, the minister therefore agreed G. B. Probst. difﬁculties, as a parish church would have had to with Cazier, the treasurer-general, to entrust the be removed and therefore it was a project more desir- management of the project to Limpens, the adviser able than feasible.34 to the Financial Council. As the Sablon was already occupied by the beau- In the opinion of Limpens and Starhemberg, a tiful fountain presented by the Duke of Aylesbury, clean break with the past was needed. The people and the Grand-Place was encumbered by markets, still living in the ruins, or nearby, in the Borgen- and was also the place where criminals were execut- dael,35 would have to be moved and rehoused. And ed, neither of these two squares could be regarded Charles V’s old chapel would have to be demolished: as a suitable location for the august statue. In 1774, It is true that, inside and outside, it is a beautiful, an- in consultation with Charles of Lorraine, and with cient monument, but as long as it is worth preserving it the support of Starhemberg, the States of Brabant only insofar as there might be a question of rebuilding opted for the site of the court’s inner ward (Place a palace there for the sovereign, or his representative, to des Bailles). In the authorities’ eyes it was desirable reside in – and even in that case the old alignment would to be able to inaugurate the statue as soon as pos- certainly never be followed – from what one can see, it sible and certainly during the forthcoming visit to would only be possible to maintain it by spending money

286 on it and giving it, among other things, a facade which cost of restoring them (essential if the chapel was would inevitably be costly and would lead nowhere. to be transformed into a repository for archives or In truth the site of the chapel, whose underground a library) was estimated to be at least 25,000 florins. spaces could quite easily and even usefully be preserved, The sale of the materials recovered from the dem- is not intended to form part of the new square. But de- olition of the building, on the other hand, could spite this, I still think that the chapel should be included bring in 15,803 florins.37 The idea of renovating it in the demolition. On the other hand, the further we take needed to be abandoned, therefore, and Starhem- the demolition of buildings that cannot be maintained berg too argued strongly for this: without great expenditure – and this is the case with the The project certainly presents more than one advan- chapel – the greater will be the benefit of the demolition tage: first of all, it offers something we could not find to Her Majesty.36 anywhere else in the city – a place that is decent and The report by Limpens, the financial adviser con- suitable in every way for the statue of a prince whose sulted by minister Starhemberg, shows that the memory must be passed on for all time. It will destroy chapel had always been regarded as a monument walls – for that is all there is any more – that present a worthy of preservation. He proposed razing all the sight as sorrowful as it is disagreeable, and it will pre- parts of it above ground, however, because, despite vent accidents and mishaps that are all the more to be its beautiful architecture, from now on it would feared as, since the fire, these walls have been exposed be merely an isolated building that would match in the open air to bad weather and they stand on their poorly with the new square and park. A close ex- own, attached to nothing other than a part of the chapel, amination of the chapel, moreover, revealed that which is itself not very safe, and without, moreover, hav- seven pillars had been charred in 1731 and that the ing any support.38

The decision to go ahead with full demolition meant they could be freed from the constraints of the past and could start work on one of the most important renovation schemes ever undertaken in Brussels: beyond the Place Royale, surrounded by broad roads in the neoclassical style, Brussels Park, would follow on from the ﬁrst shovel-load of upturned sod, in 1774. Within a decade the whole district would have been altered, radically transforming the appearance of the capital of the Austrian Netherlands, heretofore not particularly open to new architectural trends, with the exception of the Place Saint-Michel, created in the same period in the lower part of the city.39

!". FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE TO THE ROYAL QUARTER 287 Before and After the Development of the Place Royale Christophe LOIR

When construction work was beginning on and, all around, the eight private mansions. withdrawal of the palace (into what had been the new district on the Coudenberg, the artist The contrast, of course, is striking: the new de- Nassau House and was now known as the pal- François Lorent was given the task of immor- velopments are distinguished by their regular- ace of Charles of Lorraine). And, in practice, the talising the condition of the area before and ity and uniformity, their alignment, and their new palace no longer played the same cen- after its transformation. classical style. As with the drawings of the tral, structuring role as the old one. The fore- His 1774 drawing, entitled Vue de la vie- new and old parks, also done by Lorent, these court of the old palace (Place des Bailles) and ille Cour à Bruxelles, ruinée par l’Incendie le 4 views were intended to be a reminder of the its gardens (the Warande) had now become, Février 1731 (View of the old court in Brussels, dilapidated state of the Coudenberg after the respectively, an independent public square destroyed by fire on 4 February 1731), shows fire, and to document the metamorphosis of (Place Royale) and a public park (Brussels Park). the Place des Bailles as seen from the Rue the district achieved between 1774 and 1785, This radical transformation, which reflects the Montagne de la Cour with, prominent on the thanks to its renovation. The government, in emergence of public spaces in the 18th-century left, part of Hoogstraeten House, the start of fact, noted in relation to Lorent’s drawings Age of Enlightenment, did not, however, weak- Rue Isabelle and the Aula Magna (largely de- that posterity and, without going so far, the en the close links between the Coudenberg stroyed). In the background is the church of next generation will not credit that what now and those in power: rather, it illustrated the St James on the Coudenberg, surrounded by exists was preceded by a sight so bleak, so lack- evolution both of the sovereign’s legitimacy modest dwellings. ing in pleasantness, without taste, or form, or and of the ways in which political power was In 1778, when the building work was already utility […]. presented to the public. Meanwhile, the Cou- well advanced, Lorent drew the new square Over and above this visual contrast, the tran- denberg would continue to exert a strong at- from the same vantage point, with the statue sition from Place des Bailles to Place Royale – traction for prestigious buildings, as would be of governor-general Charles of Lorraine in the like that from Warande to Brussels Park – was demonstrated by the debate on the palaces in centre, the portico of the new church behind notably marked by the relocation and slight the 19th century (see Chapter 13).

François Lorent, View of the ruins of the old palace of Coudenberg, 1774.

François Lorent, View of the Place Royale after the destruction of the old palace ruins, 1778.

288 ABREVIATIONS

ACPASB Archives du CPAS de Bruxelles AEA Archives de l’État à Anderlecht AGR Archives générales du Royaume (Brussels) ARB Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique ASRAB Annales de la société royale d’Archéologie de Bruxelles AVB Archives de la Ville de Bruxelles CAPB Chancellerie autrichienne des Pays-Bas (AGR) CB Cahiers bruxellois CC Chambre des comptes (AGR) CP Cartes et plans, inventaire manuscrit (AGR) CPB Cartes et plans de Bruxelles et de la Région bruxelloise (AVB) CRH Commission royale d’histoire DEA Diplôme d’Études Approfondies FI Fonds iconographique (AVB) HHStA Haus-Hof-und Staatsarchiv (Vienna) IRPA Institut royal du Patrimoine artistique KBR Bibliothèque royale de Belgique MRBAB Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique MRAH Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire MRBC Ministère de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale MVB Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles – Maison du Roi OC Ouvrages de la cour (AGR) PP Plans portefeuilles (AVB) RBAHA Revue belge d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’art. SRAB Société royale d’Archéologie de Bruxelles TP Travaux publics (AVB)

ABREVIATIONS 315 communication de la cour de l’Hôtel d’Hooghstraete, dont vous avez nance Council on the restoration of the royal palace in Brussels, fait abbatre le toict (arrange for the removal of the two springers published by M. H%*(6$#, “Quelques documents inédits sur la bearing the floor of the communication of the court of Hoog- cour de l’archiduchesse Marie-Élisabeth d’Autriche, gouvernante straeten House, whose roof you have had demolished). des Pays-Bas”, in Annales de la Société d’Archéologie de Bruxelles, vol. 28 A. H"##" & A. W$%&"'(, Histoire de la ville de Bruxelles (new 15, Brussels, 1901, pp. 64-70 (here, in particular pp. 72-75). edition of the original text published in 1845), vol. 3, Brussels, 5 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 399, account given by Charles of Lorraine 1975, pp. 366-367. We have not found the sources to which these to Maria Theresa, 6 March 1751. Brussels, AGR, Manuscript authors refer. maps and plans (CP), Series 1, 511, plan and elevations for a new 29 M. C")*(, “L’hôtel d’Antoine de Lalaing”, op. cit. note 3, pp. 81- palace designed for the site of the burnt-down palace, 1751 (on 95. two sheets). 30 D. V$# E"#+,,-" . M. C")*(, “Het ’Hof van Hoogstraten’”, 6 Document published in full by P. S$*#&"#,3, Les arts et les ar- op. cit. note 1, p. 45. tistes à la Cour de Bruxelles. Le Palais royal du Coudenberg du règne 31 Brussels, AGR, Greffes scabinaux et du Notariat, 8.676, 22 De- d’Albert et Isabelle à celui d’Albert Ier, roi des Belges, Brussels, 1935, cember 1775, Notary Gilles Herdies. pp. 175-187 (Académie royale de Belgique. Classe des Beaux-Arts. 32 Bastendorff, Plan parcellaire de Bruxelles, 1821: Archives de la Mémoires, collection in 4°, 2nd series, vol. VI). Ville de Bruxelles, Cartes et plans de Bruxelles et de la Région 7 M. G$)$#2, “Vienne et Bruxelles: deux échelons de l’adminis- bruxelloise, no. 48. tration des Pays-Bas autrichiens”, in J.-P. L"+#"'(, C. B'%#"") 33 Keldermans. Een architectonisch netwerk in de Nederlanden, ’s- & H. R"*#$)&"' (eds), L’Autriche, les Pays-Bas et le Duché de Lux- Gravenhage-Bergen op Zoom, 1987. embourg au !"###e siècle, 1999, pp. 11-23 (Publications du Centre 34 L. D" C)"'/0, Renovatie van de gebouwen de Lalaing-Hoog- Universitaire de Luxembourg, Cahiers d’Histoire, IV). straeten. Laat-Gothische ganderij. Materieel-technisch onderzoek van 8 L.-P. G$/+$'2, “Le traité de Versailles de 1756. (Lettres confi- de afwerkingslagen. Restauratie-advies, unpublished study com- dentielles de Marie-Thérèse au prince Charles de Lorraine)”, in missioned by the MRBC, March 1999, p. 9. L.-P. G$/+$'2, Études et notices historiques concernant l’histoire 35 These features are known only from the drawing by Remigio de Belgique, III, Brussels, 1890, pp. 233-253. Cantagallina. 9 H. C,77"#(, De financiën van de centrale regering van de zuidelijke 36 L. M"'&"#(, “Het Gelmelslot”, op. cit. note 3, pp. 38-46. Nederlanden aan het einde van het Spaanse en onder Oostenrijks be- wind (ca. 1680-1788), Brussels, 1992, pp. 328-341 (Verhandelingen van de Koninklijke Academie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en INSERT p. 256 Schone Kunsten van België, Klasse der Letteren, 142). 10 C. L"6$*'", “Le palais de Charles de Lorraine 1750-1780”, taken 1 Y. D"1,( et al., “An archaeopedological and phytolitarian study from the Bulletin trimestriel du Crédit Communal de Belgique, No. of the “Dark Earth” on the site of Rue de Dinant (Brussels, Bel- 135-136, 1981. gium)”, in Catena, vol. 78, Amsterdam, 2009, pp. 270-284. http:// 11 In 1757, Maria Theresa granted him permission to take 2,000 dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2009.02.013 . florins a month out of state funds for the work to be done on the 2 Y. D"1,( et al., “Buried Anthropic Soils in the Centre of Brussels palace (Brussels, AGR, Conseil des Finances, 2052, Order from (Belgium): Looking for Fields in a (Proto-)urban Context”, in K. Cobenzl to the Finance Council, 4 October 1757). F"/+#"' et al. (eds), Archaeology, Soil- and Life-Sciences Applied 12 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 448, account given by Charles of Lorraine to Enclosures and Fields. Proceedings of the Session ’From microprobe to Maria Theresa dated 5 July 1761. On the sites of the Chamber to spatial analysis – Enclosed and buried surfaces as key sources in of Accounts in Brussels, see: A. V$#'*", Bruxelles: les archives cen- Archaeology and Pedology’, European Association of Archaeologists trales et le Quartier de la Cour. Catalogue de l’exposition organisée à 12th Annual Meeting Krakow, Poland, 19th to 24th September 2006, l’occasion du bicentenaire des Archives de l’État, Brussels, 1996, pp. Oxford, 2011, pp. 143-161 (British Archaeological Reports Inter- 14 and 21. national Series, 2222). 13 M. C. F. R,)$#2 )" V*'),3(, Dictionnaire d’architecture civ- 3 C. D$1*2 et al., « Problématique archéologique. Méthodes et ile et navale, antique et moderne et de tous les arts et métiers qui en techniques appliquées à l’étude des terres noires: état de la re- dépendent, etc., Paris, 1770-1771. In the article entitled “Accou- cherche », in Terres Noires – 1, Tours, 2000, pp. 15-38. plement”, the author alludes to the polyglyph “as I have prac- 4 Y. D"1,( et al., « Buried Anthropic Soils », op. cit. note 2. tised it in Brussels, at the entrance to the Palais des Conseils, on 5 Y. D"1,(, L. V'32$-+( . S. M,2'*", « L’étude des Terres the Place de Louvain” (vol. 1, p. 15). The representation of this Noires bruxelloises: l’exemple du site de l’hôtel d’Hoogstraeten polyglyph is reproduced in vol. 3, pl. XC, fig. IV. This publication (Région Br.) » in Archaeologia Medievalis Chronique, vol. 33, Brus- is accessible online at Internet Archives: http://www.archive.org/ sels, 2010, pp. 63-65. details/dictionnairedarc01rola, http://www.archive.org/details/ dictionnairedarc02rola, http://www.archive.org/details/diction- nairedarc03rola (consulted 30 May 2011). CHAPTER 45| FROM THE COUDENBERG PALACE 14 Vienna, Haus-, Hof-und Staatsarchiv (HHStA), Belgien, Ber- TO THE ROYAL QUARTER ichte, DDA 86, report from Cobenzl to Kaunitz, 5 June 1761. 15 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Weisungen, DDA 7, letter from Kau- 1 Quotation taken from a report by Prince Starhemberg, plenipo- nitz to Cobenzl, 15 July 1761. tentiary minister in Brussels to Chancellor Kaunitz, 3 August 16 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Berichte, DDA 86, reports from 1774 (Brussels, Archives générales du Royaume (AGR), Austrian Cobenzl, 24 July and 5 August 1761. Chancellery in the Netherlands (CAPB), 481). 17 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 456, account given by Charles of Lorraine 2 L.-P. G$/+$'2, “L’incendie du palais royal de Bruxelles (3 févri- to Maria Theresa, 24 November 1763, and opinion of the treasurer 1731)”, in Bulletin de l’Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres er-general of the Finance Council, Baron de Cazier, 28 February et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 2nd series, XXXV, Brussels, 1873, 1763. pp. 109-147. 18 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Berichte, DDA 102, report from 3 On the correspondence between Brussels and Vienna at the time Cobenzl to Kaunitz, 18 August 1764. of Maria Elisabeth, see: F. P*/+,'#"', Wiener Quellen zu den 19 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Berichte, DDA 105, report from Osterreichischen Niederlanden: die Statthalter Erzherzogin Maria Cobenzl to Kaunitz, 7 January 1765. Elisabeth und Graf Friedrich Harrach (1725-1743), Vienna/Böhlau, 20 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 456, report from Kaunitz to Maria The- 1990. See also Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 264-270, general index to resa, 4 February 1765. the official correspondence between Brussels and Vienna. 21 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Weisungen, DDA 11, letter from Kau- 4 These plans have been reproduced in: A. S6,)$'-M"3#$'& nitz to Cobenzl, 30 May 1765. et al., Le Palais de Bruxelles. Huit siècles d’art et d’histoire, Brussels, 22 Vienna, HHStA, Belgien, Berichte, DDA 107, report from 1991, pp. 152-153 and in B. 2’H$*#$%&, “L’édification d’une allé- Cobenzl to Kaunitz, 8 June 1765. gorie politique néo-classique”, in A. S6,)$'-M"3#$'& & A. 23 Brussels, AGR, CP, Series 1, 493: Plans and elevations of a build- V$#'*" (eds), Le Quartier Royal, Brussels, 1998, p. 158 and p. 179. ing for the Collateral Councils, to be built in the park, near the See also the 1736 memorandum by Strozzi, member of the Fi- Place de Louvain, surveyed and drawn by the architect B. Savoet.

340 24 On Dewez, the architect, see: X. D%0%"##", Le château de Sen- word “palace”, see L. M,%)*#*"'-B',-*, “’Palais’: la singulière effe, Brussels, 1978, pp. 101-114. C. 2" B'$"8")""', Laurent- fortune d’un mot”, in M.-F. A%;973 & J. C,'#"&&", Palais et Benoît Dewez – 1731-1812, Seneffe, 1992. Pouvoir. De Constantinople à Versailles, Saint-Denis, 2003, pp. 295- 25 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 466, account given by Charles of Lorraine 308 and G. S$=$&*"', “Le palais d’État en Europe, de la Renais- to Maria Theresa, 22 May 1768. sance au Grand Siècle”, in M.-F. A%;973 & J. C,'#"&&", Palais 26 After the fire, the Privy and Finance Councils held their meet- et Pouvoir, op. cit., pp. 81-108. ings in the old Granvelle Palace on the Rue des Sols. On this pal- 3 Description de la Ville de Bruxelles, enrichie du plan de la ville et de ace, see K. D" J,#-", “Le palais Granvelle à Bruxelles: premier perspectives, J.L. de Boubers, Brussels, 1782, p. 2. exemple de la Renaissance romaine dans les anciens Pays-Bas ?”, 4 Abbé M$##, Abrégé de l’histoire ecclésiastique, civile et naturelle de in K. D" J,#-" & G. J$#(("#( (eds), Les Granvelle et les anciens la ville de Bruxelles, et de ses environs; avec la description de ce qui s’y Pays-Bas: Liber doctori Mauricio Van Durme dedicatus, Leuven, trouve de plus remarquable, partie seconde: Description de Bruxelles, 2000, pp. 341-387. ou Etat présent tant ecclésiastique que civil, de cette ville, Lemaire, 27 Savoet’s son, who had also trained as an architect, was made Brussels, 1785, p. 204. second-in-command in the Office of Court Works (Bureau des 5 Ibidem, p. 82. ouvrages de la cour) in 1760, and inspector in 1767. See: K. B9- 6 X. D%0%"##", “Le nouveau Château de Charles de Lorraine à &+%6", Gestion et entretien des bâtiments royaux dans les Pays-Bas Tervuren”, in Revue belge d’Archéologie et d’Histoire de l’Art, pt. 77, autrichiens (1715-1794). Le Bureau des Ouvrages de la Cour, Brus- Brussels, 2008, pp. 101-132. sels, 2001, p. 194 (Études sur le :1***e siècle, XIX). 7 H. L,'"#;, “Le château en Europe”, in T.W. G$"+&-"#( & 28 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 466, report from Kaunitz to Maria The- K. P,6*$# (eds.), Le !"###e siècle, Paris, 1998, pp. 257-261 (His- resa, 7 July 1768. toire artistique de l’Europe). 29 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 466, margin note autographed by Maria 8 Brussels, Archives générales du Royaume (AGR), Conseil des Theresa on the report by Kaunitz dated 7 July 1768. Finances, 2062, essay dated 6 May 1793. Acknowledgements to 30 X. D%0%"##", Le Parc de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1993, pp. 35-36. I Michèle Galand for transmitting this document. would like to thank Monsieur Duquenne who drew my atten- 9 X. D%0%"##", Le Parc de Wespelaar. Le jardin anglais en Belgique tion to this early involvement by Guimard in the plans for reno- au !"###e siècle, Brussels, 2001, pp. 52-54. See also A. M,)*&,' vating the Royal Quarter. et al., Le Palais Royal de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1993 (Musea Nostra, 31 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 466, copy of Cobenzl’s report to Kaunitz 32); V.G. M$'&*#3, “Charles Vander Straeten, architecte des dated 31 July 1768. palais royaux, 1771-1834”, in Industrie, No 12, December 1971, 32 On the purchase of the building, see: Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 466, pp. 748-759; L. R$#*"'*, “Le Palais Royal de 1780 à nos jours”, report from Kaunitz to Maria Theresa, 16 August 1768. On the in A. S6,)$'-M"3#$'& et al., Le Palais de Bruxelles. Huit siècles series of alterations made to this palace, see: A. H"##" & A. d’art et d’histoire, Brussels, 1991, pp. 267-302. W$%&"'(, Histoire de la ville de Bruxelles, 1845, re-ed. M. M$'- 10 J.J. D" C),"&, Châteaux et monuments des Pays-Bas, Jobard, Brus- &"#(, Brussels, 1975, vol. III, pp. 350-356. sels, undated, No 69. 33 Cited by G. D"( M$'";, La place royale à Bruxelles: genèse de 11 L. R$#*"'*, Léopold II urbaniste, Brussels, 1973, p. 155. l’oeuvre, sa conception et ses auteurs, Brussels, 1923, p. 101 (Aca- 12 Brussels, Archives de la Ville de Bruxelles (AVB), Cartes et plans démie royale de Belgique, Mémoires, Classe des Beaux-Arts, coll. de Bruxelles et de la Région bruxelloise (CPB), No 45, “Projet In-4°, 2nd series). pour l’agrandissement et l’embellissement de la Ville de Brux- 34 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 481, account given by Starhemberg to Ma- elles, pour y former de grandes communications et y placer con- ria Theresa, 3 August 1774. venablement le palais de Sa Majesté . Dédié et présenté à Son 35 On this, see: A. V$#'*", “La place des Bailles vers la porte de Na- Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Prince d’Orange le 11 septembre mur”, in A. S6,)$'-M"3#$'& & A. V$#'*" (eds), Le Quartier 1817, par f[rançoi]s Verly, son architecte”. The quotations which Royal, op. cit. note 4, pp. 42-61. follow are taken from the detailed legend of the plan. 36 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 481, account given by Starhemberg to Ma- 13 A.C. Q%$&'"6>'" 2" Q%*#/3, Dictionnaire historique de ria Theresa, 3 August 1774. l’Architecture, Volume 2, Paris, Adrien Le Clere et Cie, 1832, note 37 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 481, report from Kaunitz to Maria The- on “palais”, p. 186. resa, 24 August 1774. 14 L. S,6"'+$%("# & W. V$# 2"# S&""#", Le Palais de la Na- 38 Brussels, AGR, CAPB, 481, account given by Starhemberg to tion, Tielt, 1981. Kaunitz, 3 August 1774. 15 C. D")1,3", Le Palais des Académies. Esquisse historique, Brussels, 39 C. L,*', Bruxelles néoclassique: Mutation d’un espace urbain, 1775- 1980. 1840, Brussels, 2009, pp. 69-119. It was then that the Chamber 16 Notably H. F*,//$'2,, Bruxelles, les palais de Laeken et de Ter- of Accounts could finally be rehoused, as room was found for it vueren, Brussels, 1824, p. 30. in the left wing of the Council of Brabant, at the edge of the park. 17 The names of the paths of the park, including “Avenue du Palais”, are shown on the topographic map of the city of Brussels and its suburbs, drawn in 1816 by Jean-Baptiste De Bouge, see L. D$#/- INSERT p. 288 8$"'&, Bruxelles. Cinq siècles de cartographie, Tielt-Knokke, 1989, p. 98. The project is also mentioned by B. D" S6"2&, Le parc de 1 Brussels, Archives générales du Royaume, Collection des Manu- Bruxelles ancien et moderne, Brussels, 1847, p. 129. scrits du département II, Création de la place Royale et du Parc, 18 Y. L"=)*/0, “Les deux Palais de Justice de Bruxelles au :*:e siè- vol. 4, fol. 112-118. cle”, in Poelaert et son temps, Brussels, 1980, pp. 245-296. 19 C. B)$#0%*", “Le palais de la justice dans la France d’Ancien Régime: où siègent les présidiaux ?”, in M.-F. A%;973 & CHAPTER 4< | A HISTORY OF THE PALACES AROUND J. C,'#"&&" (eds), Palais et Pouvoir, op. cit. note 2, pp. 333-350; COUDENBERG R. J$/,= & N. M$'/+$)-J$/,=, “Jalons pour une histoire de l’architecture judiciaire”, in La Justice en ses temples, Poitiers-Par- 1 The authors have deliberately restricted themselves to complex- is, 1992, pp. 23-68; J. P,%6$'>2" & J. T+,6$( (eds), Les Parle- es explicitly called “palaces” and which have retained the same ments de province, Toulouse, 1996. function up to the present day. This choice explains the absence 20 Notably A. I6="'& & B.-L. B"))"&, Tablettes bruxelloises ou of buildings such as the palace of the Count of Flanders in Rue Usages, mœurs et coutumes de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1828, p. 42. For de la Régence, which became a princely residence at a late stage an overview of these institutions located in the old Court, see and quickly lost the status of “palace”, or the Hôtels d’Egmont M. V$# K$)/8, “Le musée et la vie culturelle à Bruxelles”, in on Rue aux Laines which gained the title of “palace” after being M. V$# K$)/8 (ed.), Les Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Bel- combined, rearranged and expanded to form the single complex gique. Deux siècles d’histoire, vol. 1, Brussels, 2003, pp. 147-166. that we know today. 21 The street takes its name from the body of municipal officers 2 Dictionary of the French Academy, 4th edition, 1762, consulted on who were the forerunners of the present Communal Council. 4 September 2011 at http://artflx.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/dicos/ 22 A commission was established in 1817 by decision of the Mu- pubdico1look.pl?strippedhw=palais. On the evolution of the nicipal Council to consider the various plans for the opening-up

NOTES 341