Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries are Europe's first glazed shopping arcade, predating Milan's famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II by two decades. Designed by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar and opened between 1846 and 1847, the galleries revolutionized the concept of covered shopping and became a model for arcades worldwide. Stretching approximately 200 meters under a massive glass dome that floods the space with natural light, the galleries consist of three connected sections: the King's Gallery, the Queen's Gallery, and the Princes' Gallery. Around six million visitors walk through each year, drawn as much by the architecture as by the shops. The galleries are home to some of Belgium's most celebrated brands. Delvaux, the luxury leather specialists, operates from here, as does the original Neuhaus boutique, the chocolatier credited with inventing the praline, the filled chocolate truffle that Belgium has exported to the world. The arcade connects La Monnaie (the federal opera house) to the Grand-Place, creating a covered passageway between two of Brussels' most important cultural landmarks. Restaurants, cafes, a small theater, and a cinema share the space with boutiques, making the galleries a destination rather than just a thoroughfare. Walking through the galleries, you understand why this was a revolutionary idea. Before covered arcades, shopping in the rain meant getting wet. Cluysenaar solved that problem with glass, iron, and a vision that changed retail architecture forever. A Questo quest through Brussels passes through these galleries, connecting their stories with the Grand-Place and the wider city.