La Monnaie, Brussels

Designed by Damesme

At the end of the seventeenth century, the banker Bombarda was permitted to build a theatre. As location, he chose the ruin of an old hotel, that served as a mint during the fifteenth century, hence the name La Monnaie. Paolo Bezzi was the architect. The works started in February 1697 and were finished at the end of 1699.
Although it was a new building, it started to deteriorate very fast, because of the completely wooden interior. In 1784 the architect Wailly was asked to draw the plans for a new project, which was never carried out.

It was not before the 9th of March 1817, that they began building on a new opera-house, of which Damesme was the architect. This new building was situated exactly behind the old theatre. The inauguration took place on the 25th of May 1819. In June 1819 the old theatre (of Bombarda) was demolished. The free space became the Place de la Monnaie.
The architect Sechan was responsible for a complete renovation of the house. In the same period the Greek fronton was placed. This work - named Les Passions Humaines - was created by Simonis.
Unfortunately, the complete interior was destroyed by a fire on the 21st of January 1855. Poelaert was asked to redesign the interior. How La Monnaie looks today, is very close to his design for the opera-house.

Address:

   Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

   4, Rue Léopold

   1000 Brussels, Belgium

   Tel: +32 2  218 52 61

Ticket offices:

2, Rue de la Reine.  Tue-Sat: 11AM - 6PM
4, Rue Léopold.      Tue-Sat: 11AM - 6PM

Tel: +32 2 229 12 11

Fax: +32 2 229 13 84

Ticket prices:

Category 1  3000  4900
Category 2  2100  3400
Category 3  1700  2200
Category 4  1100  1300
Category 5   600   700
Category 6   300   400

Capacity

1170 seats