25 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Works on Brussels metro line uncovered remains of the second city wall

Construction work on the new metro line 3 in Brussels, the Belgian capital, has revealed part of the second rampart wall and one of its semicircular towers.

Bruzz reports that as a result of the construction, remnants of Brussels’ second city wall have been uncovered. This is the first time that one of the approximately 70 semicircular towers of the second rampart wall was uncovered.

One of the nearly seventy semicircular constellations has been revealed for the first time. Prior to this discovery, the only archaeological remains of the second city wall were the Porte de Hal and the 17th-century fortress wall discovered during the construction of the Porte de Hal metro.

The archaeologists discovered “two relatively parallel sections of the wall” in addition to the tower. Both discoveries have been stymied largely by recent developments, such as a concrete hatch on the west side and brick ducts running directly through it.

Detail of the “View of Brussels” by Bonnecroy (1664-1665) between the Grande Écluse and the Porte de Hal.
Detail of the “View of Brussels” by Bonnecroy (1664-1665) between the Grande Écluse and the Porte de Hal.

This new discovery, near the Brussels-Midi station, was made last year by archaeologists supervising the works, but the discoveries were only recently reported in the journal Cahiers Bruxellois.

Brussels’ economy and population grew rapidly in the 14th century, forcing the city to expand and construct a second wall. Ludwig van Male (Count of Flanders) and his forces’ difficulties in defending the city in 1356 may have been decisive in laying the foundation stone in 1357.

The second Brussels city wall was eight kilometers in circumference: twice as long as the first. The wall had about seventy semi-circular towers, and two round watchtowers, and was pierced with seven gates and two locks.

Although only the Halle Gate remains, many references can still be found in Brussels to the entry gates of yesteryear: the Halle Gate, the Naamse Gate, the Leuven Gate, the Schaarbeekse Gate, the Lakense Gate, the Flemish Gate, and the Anderlechtse Gate and eighth gate, Oeverpoort. Oeverpoort Gate was built in the 16th century.

Remnants second city wall of.
Remnants second city wall of. Photo: Brussels Pamphlets

The majority of the entrance gates were destroyed at the end of the 18th century when it was decided that the wall would no longer be used as a military defense. Since it was a prison, only Hallepoort has survived. Since that time, the city wall has changed from a shelter to a walkway with a stunning view of the city.

Similar to Paris, Brussels decided to create space for a wide city avenue so that residents could travel along it on foot or by horseback until the end of the 19th century. Many of the city’s neighborhoods were altered by this choice: new residential areas grew up around the avenue, and the industrial area grew on the north and west sides as a result of the harbor’s presence.

Because work on Metro Line 3 is far from finished, researchers anticipate more archaeological discoveries.

doi.org/10.3917/brux.053.0007

Related Articles

Artvin Demirkapı/Arılı rock paintings give information about Anatolian Bronze Age Nomadic

14 December 2021

14 December 2021

Rock paintings are material cultural assets that provide us with unique information about the socio-cultural structure, religious beliefs, and rituals,...

‘Roman numerals’ discovered on Stone of Destiny ahead of King Charles III coronation

8 April 2023

8 April 2023

New research has revealed previously unrecorded markings that appear to be Roman numerals on the Stone of Destiny, considered one...

Archaeologists have discovered a treasure trove of sixth-century coins in ancient Phanagoria in Russia

27 July 2021

27 July 2021

Archaeologists have discovered 80 coins known as Copper staters dating back to the sixth century at Phanagoria on the Black...

Scientists have developed a new tool that enables them to identify prehistoric and historic individuals’ relatives up to the sixth-degree

24 December 2023

24 December 2023

A new method of genetic analysis makes it possible to determine family relationships of prehistoric and historical individuals up to...

Archaeologists have found an intriguing Iron Age “shrine” in the Yorkshire Wolds

19 September 2021

19 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered an interesting ancient Iron Age “shrine” in the Yorkshire Wolds, which was marked out by meticulously placed...

One-of-a-kind 1000- years-old gold earring found in Denmark

13 December 2021

13 December 2021

A metal detectorist in Denmark uncovered a one-of-a-kind piece of 11th-century gold jewelry that had never been seen in Scandinavia...

Refurbishment at the Uffizi Gallery Revealed a Pair of Priceless Lost Renaissance Frescoes

24 April 2021

24 April 2021

A couple of construction workers discovered two Renaissance-era treasures while working on an extensive renovation project at Florence’s world-famous Uffizi...

Norwegian Boy in Search of Granddad’s Wedding Ring Finds 1500-year-old Roman Jewellery

11 August 2021

11 August 2021

Sander Magnus Vang (12) needed to find his grandfather’s lost wedding ring. Instead, he found a 1500-year-old ring. The golden...

Klazomenai, ceramic center of ancient period was found the first seal belonging to the city

20 November 2022

20 November 2022

A seal belonging to the city was found for the first time during excavations in the ancient city of Klazomenai...

Hundreds Of Mummified Bees inside their Cocoons from the Time of the Pharaohs found in Portugal

25 August 2023

25 August 2023

Hundreds of mummified bees inside their cocoons have been found on the southwest coast of Portugal, in a new paleontological...

7.5 Million Annual Elephant Skulls Fossil Were Found in Turkey “Choerolophodon Pentelic”

17 March 2021

17 March 2021

A complete skull fossil from 7.5 million years ago was discovered on the bank of the Yamula Dam in the...

From Caves to Mounds: The Enigmatic Burial Practices of the Southern Jê in Brazil

25 February 2025

25 February 2025

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology sheds light on the enigmatic burial practices of the Southern...

Hoysala temples inch closer towards UNESCO recognition

7 February 2022

7 February 2022

The Indian Union government recently proposed the Somanathapura temple in Mysuru district and Chennakeshava and Hoysaleshwara temples in Belur and...

A Second temple of the Second Temple period was discovered at Migdal

13 December 2021

13 December 2021

The University of Haifa reported on Sunday the discovery of a 2,000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple era in Migdal,...

People may have been cooking curries in South-East Asia for at least 2000 years

22 July 2023

22 July 2023

Archaeologists have found remnants of eight spices on a sandstone slab from an archaeological site in Vietnam, showing the early...