The project to build a religious monument here was initiated by Leopold II, the builder king. He wished to surpass the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, but the State refused to release the funds. Leopold II then turned to the Church, yet it was not until 1905 that the first stone of the basilica was laid, for Belgium’s 75th anniversary. Work was soon interrupted by the First World War and only resumed in 1930. Ghent architect Albert van Huffel was put in charge and presented a new design. His pupil and successor Paul Rome continued the work, and the basilica, though unfinished, was consecrated in 1951. Its majestic copper dome, visible from afar, rises to 90 metres and weighs no less than 43,000 tonnes, almost five times the total weight of the Eiffel Tower. The interior is equally impressive: terracotta brick, stained glass and the play of light further enhance the vast volumes.
Its monumental character and strategic position in the perspective of a major urban axis give it an exceptional urban role, reinforcing the importance of this manifesto of religious Art Deco in the city’s skyline. Just below the dome, at a height of 52.80 metres, an outdoor gallery offers a 360° view over Brussels and, on clear days, far beyond the capital.