Carillon of the Mont des Arts, Brussels — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Hidden in an arcade on the Mont des Arts, the Brussels carillon is a delightful piece of musical engineering that most tourists walk right past. Created for the 1958 World Expo (Expo 58), it features 24 bells produced by the famous Paccard foundry and a clockwork system that brings Belgian history to life every hour. The star of the show is the Jacquemart, a 2.8-meter bronze automaton depicting a top-hatted bourgeois gentleman from Brussels. On the hour, this mechanical figure strikes the bell with theatrical precision. Rotating figurines depicting characters from Brussels history and folklore join him, creating a miniature pageant that plays out against the arcade's twelve-pointed star clock. The carillon plays two melodies on alternating hours, one in each of Belgium's languages: "Ou peut-on etre mieux" by Andre Gretry in French, and "Beiaardlied" by Peter Benoit in Flemish. It is a musical expression of Belgium's linguistic duality, delivered by bells and clockwork. Of the 24 bells, eleven are visible beneath the clock. Nine represent Belgium's provinces, each engraved with its coat of arms in bronze. Two additional bells symbolize the sciences and the arts, reflecting the Expo 58 spirit of progress and culture. To catch the full show, visit at the top of an odd hour and look up. The arcade spans the rear of the Dynasty Palace on Rue des Arts. A Questo quest through Brussels leads you to unexpected discoveries like this one, where art, engineering, and humor come together in a single hidden landmark.