Thing to do
Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
A 213-metre glass-roofed arcade opened in 1847, one of Europe's earliest covered shopping galleries, lined with chocolatiers, cafés, a theatre and a cinema.
Sablon
An elegant upper-town district of antique dealers and chocolatiers around the Grand Sablon square, its Gothic church and the Petit Sablon garden.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic district and antiques market
- Area
- Sablon, Brussels, Belgium
Good to know
- Weekend antiques and books market
- Chocolatiers
- Petit Sablon garden
- Church
Why we recommend it
The Sablon is the most refined corner of central Brussels, a sloping district between the lower town and the Royal Quarter known for antique dealers, art galleries, chocolatiers and smart cafés. It centres on two squares. The larger Place du Grand Sablon hosts the Sablon antiques and books market every Saturday and Sunday, while the smaller Petit Sablon across the road is a formal garden. Between them stands the Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, rebuilt in the 15th century from an earlier chapel.
Start with the church, which was once the setting for princely baptisms and is still an active place of worship, so visit quietly. Then cross to the Petit Sablon. Its fountain sculpture by Charles-Auguste Fraikin shows the Counts of Egmont and Horn, remembered as symbols of resistance that helped spark the Dutch Revolt; the group originally stood on the Grand-Place. The garden's railings carry 48 small bronze statues representing the old trades and professions, designed by the painter Xavier Mellery and made by different sculptors.
Back on the Grand Sablon, browse the antique shops and the weekend market stalls, then turn to chocolate. Several of Belgium's best-known chocolatiers have shops around the square, including Pierre Marcolini and Neuhaus, and comparing them is part of the fun. The cafés and terraces are popular for weekend brunch and an afternoon drink.
The district suits couples, art and antiques lovers and anyone who enjoys a slow wander. It is less suited to tight budgets, as prices in the shops and on the terraces reflect the setting, but walking around costs nothing. Weekends are the liveliest time because of the market; on weekday mornings the squares are much quieter. Allow one to two hours, more if you stop for lunch.
The Sablon is served by trams 92 and 93 at the Petit Sablon stop, and it is a short walk from Brussels-Central and Brussels-Chapel stations. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Place Royale are a few minutes uphill, and the Rue Blaes leads down to the Marolles and the Jeu de Balle flea market, so it is easy to combine several neighbourhoods in one walk.
Sablon FAQs
When is the Sablon antiques market?
The antiques and books market is held on the Grand Sablon every Saturday and Sunday.
What is the Petit Sablon?
A small formal garden with a fountain sculpture of the Counts of Egmont and Horn and 48 bronze statues of trades on its railings.
Which church is on the Sablon?
The Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, rebuilt in the 15th century.
Are there chocolate shops?
Yes. Chocolatiers including Pierre Marcolini and Neuhaus have shops around the square.
Is the Sablon expensive?
Shops and terraces are on the pricier side, but walking around the squares is free.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekends for the market atmosphere, weekday mornings for quiet streets.
How do I get there?
Trams 92 and 93 stop at Petit Sablon, and Brussels-Central and Brussels-Chapel stations are a short walk away.
What is nearby?
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the Place Royale and, downhill, the Marolles and the Jeu de Balle flea market.