The weather vane of Saint Michael at the Town Hall

In 1455, a weather vane is placed on the top of the Town Hall tower. It marks the final point of the construction of the building. Measuring 5.7 metres and weighing nearly 400 kg, it has stood the test of time to become a major work of art from an artistic and scientific point of view.

Representing Saint Michael, one of the patron saints of the City, it defies the winds and bad weather a hundred meters above the ground. It had withstood the vagaries of the weather at the top of the tower until 1993 when it was replaced by a new gold-plated weather vane. The original vane has been placed in the tower of the Town Hall. It was put on display in the museum in 2018 for the benefit of our visitors. Although a lightning strike damaged the sword, the majority of the pieces are considered to be original.

M. Van Rode, Weather vane of Saint Michael_ Brussels City Museum © E.Gomez

The weather vane of Saint Michael in the museum

 

 

Immerse yourself in the secrets of this unique work of art
during your tour of the Brussels City Museum

Virtual tour

So why not check out “The Grand Place to Be” from the comfort of your own home? Immerse yourself in this virtual tour to learn more about the history of the Grand-Place in Brussels, its heritage and daily life in winter and summer alike…

Thanks to the magic of technology, the five metre high original statue of Saint Michael will be your host and guide you through rare and exclusive displays. Paintings, artefacts, engravings and photographs illustrate the eventful history, various functions, uses and transformations of the square from the 12th century right through to the present day. You can also take a look at its restoration projects. This is your chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at the most beautiful square in the world. There is plenty to learn and, more importantly, lots of fun to be had!

The museum created the “The Grand Place to Be” virtual tour with the assistance of Scan My World 
Presented by Brussels Museums & visit.brussels.