Brussels - Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie / Muntschouwburg

Turning left at the end of the Galéries leads to the Place de la Monnaie and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, both of which take their name from the 15th C. Hôtel de la Monnaie, the Duchy of Brabant's mint, which originally stood there. Designed by the architect Damesme, the Neo-Classical theater, its facade embellished with Ionic columns and gable relief, was built in 1819 to replace an earlier building, also a theater. It was here on August 25, 1830 that the Belgian Revolution began. During a performance of the opera "La Muette de Portici" (by D. F. Auber) the audience, stirred by the duet "Sacred Love of the Fatherland", rushed out onto the streets sparking off the rebellion against the Netherlands. The theater burned down in 1855 and was then rebuilt with the original facade. It was here also that Maurice Béjart founded his world-famous ballet company "Ballet du XXme Siècle" (now based in Lausanne). Built on the site of a mint, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie is a splendid example of a mid-19th century opera house (it opened in 1856) but is probably best known today for its productions of contemporary operas and introductions of new works. It also boasts a famous spot in Belgian history. In 1830 a patriotic duet during an opera performance so aroused the crowd that it stormed into the street and was the catalyst for Belgian independence that year. The season runs from early September through to late June and one opera is performed at a time. The box office, located on the right side of the house, is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.