Founded by Leopold II with a view to creating the world’s greatest concentration of artworks, this quarter dominates the lower town. Pre-existing palaces were augmented by new buildings in the 19C which replaced the St Roch district (deemed insalubrious). The caital’s best museums (musées royaux des Beaux-Arts: musée d’Art ancien et musée d’Art moderne…) are here plus some of the city’s cultural highpoints. A further reward awaits those who climb the Coudenberg: a fine view of the city.