Old Town

district, Brussels, Belgium

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The Old Town is the historic heart of Brussels, Belgium. Its origins trace back to the 10th century, with the name "Bruocsella" meaning "settlement in the marshes." Situated on the Senne River, it developed as a market town under the protection of the dukes of Brabant.1

By the 12th century, Brussels was a significant town known for its luxury fabric manufacturing and trade. The town's medieval center features the Grand’ Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ornate 17th-century guildhalls, the Town Hall, and the King's House. Other notable landmarks include the Manneken-Pis Fountain.123

The Old Town's historic walls were replaced by boulevards in the 19th century, and the city underwent significant transformation influenced by French urban planning. Today, Brussels is a cosmopolitan cultural center and the capital of Belgium.24

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Brussels
City layout
The historic Old Town of inner Brussels forms the centre of the modern metropolis, but the pentagonal walls that once surrounded it were replaced by a ring of tree-lined boulevards in the early 19th century. Since 1830, when Belgium became an independent kingdom, Brussels has continued to…
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The historic Old Town of inner Brussels forms the centre of the modern metropolis, but the pentagonal walls that once surrounded it were replaced by a ring of tree-lined boulevards in the early 19th century. Since 1830, when Belgium became an independent kingdom, Brussels has continued to…
Read More