Brussels is turning back the clock this Sunday as the Brussels Renaissance Festival (BRF) begins an eight-week celebration of European heritage and the city’s rich Renaissance

history.

The annual festival shines a spotlight on the era of Emperor Charles V, who ruled vast parts of Europe in the 16th century and established Brussels as one of his principal residences. Throughout the festival, visitors will be invited to explore the cultural legacy of that period through exhibitions, performances and historical activities across the Belgian capital.

Festivities open at the historic Coudenberg Palace with a Family Day designed to immerse visitors in Renaissance life. Set among the remains of Charles V’s former palace, the programme includes crossbow shooting, historical costume workshops, Spanish fencing demonstrations, traditional crafts and Bruegel-inspired games for all ages.

This year’s edition also coincides with the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, commemorated under the banner “Gudula26”. Guided tours focusing on the cathedral’s stained-glass windows and interior architecture are planned, alongside special evening visits during the festival period.

One of the festival’s highlights, the traditional Ommegang folklore event, will take place on 1 and 3 July. The spectacle features a historical procession and large-scale performance recreating Brussels’ Renaissance past. At the same time, the nearby Sablon district will host a Renaissance Market offering artisan goods and historical demonstrations, including a crossbow competition.

The Brussels Renaissance Festival runs until 4 July. Photo by Christophe Degryse, Wikimedia commons.