Located between the two city walls of Brussels, the district Marollen (Marolles) will enchant you with its picturesque streets and all its many attractions. Known colloquially as “Les Marolles” this traditionally working class area is nowadays one of the most hip and vintage spots in the whole city. In this article, we will explore some of its best places including a vintage shop, an old beautiful church, a unique cafe and a food market.
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Walk across Les Marolles and enjoy its unique atmosphere
A favorite area for hipsters and the young generations, Les Marolles reveals its past through the name of its streets still reflecting its artisan history. Indeed the area was home especially to craftsman and weavers. Nowadays the quarter is famous for its daily flea market that began in 1640 held in Place du Jeu Balle.
The road you can see in accompanying picture is Rue Haute, an ancient Roman road and popular street of Les Marolles. At No. 154 you can find Melting Pot Kilo, one of the best vintage shop in the whole city. The particular feature of this vintage shop is that you can buy the clothes per kilo. Most of the clothes are sold for 15 EUR (about 15 USD) per kilo but you can find some exceptions. Have a nice walk along Rue Haute and enter into the colorful and picturesque world of Melting Pot Kilo.
Enjoy a unique break at L'Atelier En Ville
Located just a 2 minute walk from Melting Pot Kilo, on Rue Haute No. 64, you can find L'Atelier En Ville. What is this wide, vintage, picturesque area exactly? I am still looking for the answer. L'Atelier en Ville can be defined as a concept store with a Wi-Fi area, a nice cafe, a floral shop, a boutique, and many other things. We can say that at L'Atelier en Ville, you can find something different in every corner, always of high quality and related to contemporary art. Here you can find wide tables where you can drink a coffee or a tea, enjoy a slice of cake or a sandwich, while being surrounded by a young, vibrating atmosphere. As you can see in the picture, the furniture is a melting pot of styles, from antique columns carved with Oriental designs to a 1950 Italian Vespa. If you visit Brussels during spring or summer, there is also an interior courtyard with a garden where you can enjoy a sunny day.
Admire Notre Dame de la Chapelle
Notre Dame de la Chapelle is a beautiful Gothic church located in the Les Marolles area, in Place de la Chapelle. First erected by order of King Godefroid in 1134, this astonishing religious building was a market church serving all the artisans living nearby. Originally built in the Romanesque style, the church was rebuilt during the 15th century following the Gothic style. Go inside and admire its beautiful artistic features such as the choir dating back to the 13th century, the 1720 pulpit designed by Plumier and its beautiful vaults. One of the most interesting features are the gargoyles placed along the main facade. Incredibly lifelike, they seem to come out from the wall representing the evil staying outside the sacred interiors.
Discover an incredibly rich food market
Located a 5 minute walk from Notre Dame de la Chapelle, on Rue des Tanneurs 60, you can find a biological food market with high quality food at a very cheap price. If you are staying in Brussels for more than a weekend and you want to make your own food, this is the best place in the city for you can buy all the necessary ingredients to cook your own recipes. The market is open from Tuesday to Friday from 11.30 am til 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am til 4 pm. Here you can find a wide selection of seasonal vegetables, legumes, fruits, biological oil, cheese, dried fruits and even some local beers.
Experience Marollen, a nice area in Brussels
The Marollen district is absolutely worth your visit during your trip in Brussels. Here, indeed, you can enjoy a complete tour through shops, artistic cafes, and historical buildings. Follow our trip recommendation step by step and find all the best spots in Les Marolles!
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