The Royal Palace near the Park of Brussels is the official residence of the Belgian monarchs, although the king and his family live in the Laeken Palace. The modern façade of the Royal Palace in the neoclassical style was made only in the early 20th century.
Since the 11th century, there was a Castle on the hill of Coudenberg (Cold Mountain), which belonged to the Duke of Brabant. In 1731, this castle was destroyed in a fire and was not restored for almost a century.
The decision to build a new Palace in Brussels was made in 1815 by king William I of the Netherlands. At that time, Belgium was under Dutch rule, but after revolution of 1830 it gained independence. Restoration work on the Palace was completed in 1829, just before the revolution.
On June 21, 1831, Belgium was declared a monarchy. The new king Leopold I of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty made his residence Laeken Palace. However, large-scale works has begun in the Royal Palace of Brussels. It began to expand, rebuild and change the interiors. It is now used for official events and ceremonies.
In 1904, the facade of the Palace was significantly rebuilt in the classical style. It was opened to tourists. It is interesting to see the state rooms, the hall of Celebrations, the Throne room, the Mirror room, and the Imperial room in the Royal Palace. The Palace has a Bellevue Museum, where you can get acquainted with the events of the revolution of 1830 when Belgium gained independence.
