164 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG REGION BY REGION
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp266–7 and pp292–4
The sacred Black Virgin at the
St-Martinusbasiliek in Halle1128, the abbey was des troyed
by Protestants in 1579. When
it was re-established, the St-
Servaasbasiliek was built in
glorious Baroque style with
a soaring interior that rises
to a large lantern over the
crossing. The black-and-white
marble altarpiece clamours
with apostles, prophets, trum-
peting cherubs and garlands,
reaching a crescendo at the
shining cross. The oak pulpit
and the elaborate confession-
als were the work of noted
Antwerp-born sculptor and
architect Hendrik Verbruggen
(c.1655–1724). The tower
contains a carillon of 48 bells.In 1267, a miraculous wooden
statue of the Virgin Mary
named the Black Virgin was
brought here, making Halle a
major pilgrimage centre, visited
by nobility and royalty, includ-
ing Edward I of England,
Louis XI of France and Philip,
Duke of Burgundy (who died
here in 1404). The statue is
the most precious treasure
of the St-Martinusbasiliek.
This 14th-century basilica is
a fascinating confection. Its
tower, with a 54-bell carillon,
has a 17th-century lantern.
Next to it stands the octago-
nal baptistery with a curious
ball-shaped top. The sublime
interior contains many treas-
ures, including a second Black
Virgin. Cannon balls in the
porch are relics of sieges that
occurred in 1489 and 1580.
Close to the choir is the tomb
and effigy of Joachim, infant
son of the Louis XI who died
in 1460 while Louis was hid-
ing from his father under the
protection of Philip the Good.R St-Martinusbasiliek
Grote Markt. # 8am–6pm daily.
& tower and crypt (treasury).Nationale
Plantentuin t
Nieuwlaan 38, Meise; 12 km (7 miles)
N of Brussels. Road Map C2.
Tel (02) 2600970. @ # Apr–Sep:
9:30am–6:30pm daily, Oct–Nov:
9:30am–5pm daily. & 7 0 =
http://www.br.fgov.be
The Domein van Bouchout
is the old estate of the 14th-
century castle of Bouchout.
In 1938, the Belgian state
bought the domain and made
it the Nationale Plantentuin
(National Botanic Garden),
essentially a research
institution that is also open to
the public.
Marked paths take visitors
around the arboretum and
lake, and to the greenhouses
which contain some 18,000
plant species from all of the
world’s climates. The Balat
Greenhouse was designed by
Alphonse Balat in 1854, in
advance of his spectacular
greenhouses at Laeken
(see p84). The Plantenpaleis
(Plant Palace), a cluster of 35
hothouses, includes Victoria
House with its giant lillies.
The medieval castle of Bouchout at the Nationale Plantentuin
Halle u
19 km (10 miles) SW of Brussels.
Road Map C2. * 35,000. £ @
n Grote Markt 1; (02) 3564259.
http://www.toerisme-halle.beSince its early history, Halle
has played an important role
as a strategic border town
between Brabant and Hainaut.Kasteel van
Beersel iLotsestraat, Beersel; 9 km (6 miles)
NE of Halle. Road Map C2.
Tel (02) 3591646. # Mar–15 Nov:
10am–noon and 2–6pm Tue–Sun;
mid-Nov–Feb: 10am–noon and
2–6pm Sat and Sun. ¢ Jan. &Rising out of its broad moat,
the 14th-century castle of
Beersel cuts a distinctive
profile. Its three semicircular
red-brick towers have robust
exterior walls, while their flat,
step-gabled sides face inwards
onto a galleried courtyard. The
castle was badly damaged dur-
ing the 1489 rebellion against
Maximilian I (see p40), but was
rebuilt. It became a cotton
factory in the 19th century,
but fell into disrepair and was
restored to its present condi-
tion only in the 20th century.Environs
Located 4 km (2 miles) to the
southwest, Provinciedomein
Huizingen is the old estate
of a château and is now anSt-Servaasbasiliek
Grimbergen y
Kerkplein 1, Grimbergen; 2 km
(1 mile) E of Meise. Road Map C2.
Tel (02) 2724060. n Prinsenstraat
22; (02) 2601296. # 7am–6pm
daily. 7 http://www.abdijgrimbergen.be
The town of Grimbergen is
well known for its abbey of
the Premonstratensian Order
(see p163) and its abbey beer.
Founded by St Norbert in