Pléban Tower

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Pléban Tower is one of the four surviving remnants of Brussels' first city wall, dating from the 13th century and the reign of Duke Henry I of Brabant. It stands in the garden of the presbytery of the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, on the side of the Rue du Bois Sauvage. Its name recalls the pléban, the parish priest: in 1452, Alexandre de Beringhen acquired the property along with the rights over the tower, which kept this name. Built on a horseshoe plan, it projects beyond the curtain wall; a square brick staircase tower, probably from the 16th century, was added to its left, while the original rising-arch staircase survives on the right. Long converted into a cellar, it has been cleared of its modern fittings and restored. Listed as a monument since 1991, it is only visible on request or during Heritage Days, making it a discreet witness to medieval Brussels.