Carillon Of The Mount Of The Arts — Attraction in Brussels

The Carillon du Mont des Arts or Beiaard van de Kunstberg was constructed in the sixties as part of the at that time newly laid out Kunstberg. The twelve figures surrounding the clock are of Brussels and/or Belgian historical characters. At one o'clock we see an inhabitant of Gaul a region which once encompassed present day Belgium. The Gauls were Celts. They were eventually assimilated into the Roman Empire. At seven o'clock, with his head under his arm, Lamoral Count of Egmont who was accused of heresy by the Spanish and executed on the Grand-Place in 1568. The character at nine o'clock is Jean-Joseph Charlier. He had a wooden leg but that did not stop him participating in the uprising of 1830 which eventually led to Belgian independence. Also featured are Rubens with his painter's palette and looking very swish at four o'clock, Philip the Good. On the hour, a melody chimes and the corresponding figure for that hour slides out ever so slightly from its little alcove. For instance at five o'clock, appropriately enough, it is the turn of Charles V. Mary of Burgundy or Margaret of Austria would also have been ideal candidates for the clock face but unfortunately no female characters are represented here. The eleven bells underneath stand for the nine Belgian provinces (changed since the sixties) as well as a bell each for sciences and arts. For more information, look for the explanation plaque at ground level on the left. The bell on the pedestal overhead should normally be accompanied by another figure "Le Bourgeois de Bruxelles" aka "Le Jacquemart" but this gentleman is currently under repair and so not operational...

This “carillon clock” was built in 1958 on the façade of the Palace of the Dynasty in the Mont des Arts complex in Brussels. Its sun-shaped face with golden rays is surrounded by 12 niches, each holding a statue of a historic or legendary Belgian figure. At the top stands the famous bell-ringer, striking the great bell with his hammer as a symbol of the...

É um relógio musical lindo, com vários detalhes dourados e esculturas super detalhadas. A cada hora cheia, sai um personagem de seu nicho enquanto Jacquemart bate seu relógio e é tocada uma música bem alta. Tem 24 sinos e 12 personagens da história e do folclore belga: Jogador de tamtam congolês, o soldado da Primeira Guerra Mundial, um operário com seu copo de cerveja, um gaulês, um soldado do século XVIII, Jean-Joseph Charlier com sua perna de madeira (foi um artilheiro e herói bem conhecido durante a revolução belga), Jacob van Artevelde (protagonista durante a Batalha das Esporas Douradas), Conde de Egmont (decapitado na Grande Praça), Peter Paul Rubens (famoso pintor), o imperador Carlos V e Filipe, o Bom.

Chegamos 4 minutos atrasado e só conseguimos ouvir, mas não conseguimos ver os personagens saindo...