The antiques market
Red-and-green tents of books, silver and ceramics at weekends.
Rolf Kranz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0
The Grand Sablon is Brussels' most refined square: an elegant sloping piazza ringed by seventeenth- and eighteenth-century houses turned antique shops, galleries and the city's finest chocolatiers — Wittamer, Marcolini (the flagship), Neuhaus, Godiva. The whole quarter breathes taste and lavish calm, minutes from the din of the Grand-Place. At weekends the square fills with the famous antiques market (Saturday and Sunday mornings) under red-and-green tents — old books, silver, ceramics, paintings. Overlooking it is the imposing Gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon, and opposite lies the small Petit Sablon garden, its railing adorned with 48 bronze statues of Brussels' old guilds. Free and near the Royal Museums and the Palace of Justice — the loveliest coffee-and-chocolate break on the upper town's cultural route.
Red-and-green tents of books, silver and ceramics at weekends.
A small garden railed by 48 statues of Brussels' guilds.
The flagship luxury chocolate shops.
Place du Grand Sablon, 1000 Brussels
Church of Notre-Dame du SablonNotre-Dame du Sablon is Brussels' loveliest Gothic church after the cathedral, a1 minute walk4.5
Egmont PalaceAn aristocratic palace in the Sablon district, sixteenth-century in origin and r2 minutes walk4.6
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of BelgiumThe Royal Museums of Fine Arts are Belgium's largest art complex, on the Place R3 minutes walk4.6
Magritte MuseumThe Magritte Museum holds the world's largest collection of René Magritte, Belgi4 minutes walk4.4
Palace of Charles of LorraineThe remains of an eighteenth-century palace built by Charles Alexander of Lorrai4 minutes walk4.4The Grand-Place is the gilded, crowded tourist icon; the Grand Sablon is the elegant square of the Bruxellois — quieter, more refined, pricier. Visit both: the Grand-Place for awe, the Sablon for coffee, chocolate and weekend antiques. Ten minutes apart on foot via Mont des Arts.