Bruxella 1238
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Exit of Bruxella 1238 | |
Interactive map of Bruxella 1238 | |
| Location | City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
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| Coordinates | 50°50′54″N 4°21′2″E / 50.84833°N 4.35056°E |
| Type | Convent |
| History | |
| Material | Stone |
| Abandoned | 15 May 1799 |
| Periods | Middle Ages–French period |
| Associated with | Recollects |
| Events | Bombardment of Brussels |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1988 |
| Excavation dates | 1988 |
| Archaeologists | Pierre-Paul Bonenfant |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Ownership | City of Brussels |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | Official website |
Bruxella 1238 is an archaeological site located beneath the Bourse Palace in Brussels, Belgium. The site presents the remains of a Recollect convent established in the early 13th century and offers visitors an insight into nearly a millennium of Brussels’ history. Excavations conducted between 1988 and 2022 uncovered building foundations, burial grounds, and various artefacts, which are now presented through an immersive scenography.
The convent endured significant events, including the European religious wars and the 1695 bombardment of Brussels by the troops of Louis XIV. Declared national property at the end of the 18th century, the convent was eventually demolished to make way for the construction of the Stock Exchange building. Among the preserved remains is the supposed tomb of John I, Duke of Brabant, a figure later linked to the beer legend of Gambrinus.