Bourse de Bruxelles (Stock Exchange Building), Brussels

Across from the church of Saint Nicholas, you'll find a seamless blend of Neo-Renaissance and Second Empire architecture manifested in the form of the grandiose Stock Exchange building. Known locally as the Bourse, it was built over five years, from 1868 to 1873, as part of the urban beautification project.

The imposing structure boasts detailed ornamentation with an array of allegorical figures representing various professions, like Navigation, and continents – Africa, Asia, etc. The twin lions flanking the main staircase carry a message – one, with its head high, symbolizes the rise of stocks, while the other, with its head lowered, signifies their potential decline. The relief of a female figure represents the City of Brussels; the two figures on her sides symbolize Industry and Trade, whereas the winged statues below symbolize the forces of Good and Evil.

Partially ravaged by fire in 1990, the building has been restored inside and out, and now houses the Brussels branch of the Euronext network, which has also incorporated the Amsterdam and Paris exchanges since 2000. While the Bourse is not open to the public, its exterior remains an impressive sight, with the stairway offering a pleasant vantage point for people-watching or reading.

The surrounding square frequently hosts various exhibitions, activities, and street performances on weekends. The building itself is flanked by two renowned cafés: the Art Nouveau Falstaff, on the south side, at Henri Maus Street, and on the opposite side, at Bourse Street, the end-of-19th-century Le Cirio. In front of the latter, you'll find the glassed-in remains of a medieval church and convent, discovered by archaeologists in the 1980s, now known as Bruxella 1238.