Along Rue Berckmans in Saint-Gilles stands a legacy. A legacy woven into the very bricks of its buildings. This isn’t just any street. Rue Berckmans whispers tales of the past. It tells of those who lived and worked here. It holds the echoes of their lives.
Rue Berckmans is named after a former landowner. The street itself links Avenue Henri Jaspar to Rue de Livourne and Rue de la Bonté. It stretches east to west. It crosses Chaussée de Charleroi. It intersects with Rue Capouillet Rue de Suisse Rue d’Écosse and Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies.
The lower part of Rue Berckmans took shape in 1862. This was thanks to a plan by Victor Besme. That same year the land was given to the municipality. The families Loix and Berckmans donated the land. In return the municipality paved the street. They also installed public lighting. A later decree in 1865 extended the street beyond the Chaussée de Charleroi.
By 1870 almost all of Rue Berckmans was built up. A few later houses appeared before the 20th century began. The street retains beautiful rows of Neoclassical houses. Some are modest dwellings. Others are grander bourgeois homes. Many have been converted into shops or apartment buildings over time.
Number 22 housed the German photographer Robert Severin. He lived there from 1877 to 1879. He was a former partner of Louis-Joseph Gémar and a friend of Nadar. He was the court photographer for the Kings of Belgium and the Netherlands.
At number 93 lived the writer Georges Rodenbach. He wrote La Jeunesse blanche there. Later he moved to Paris. He found fame with Bruges-la-Morte.
Rue Berckmans boasts 70 buildings listed as architectural heritage. These buildings are mostly used for administration not housing. A few buildings from the 1960s 1970s and 1980s disrupt the homogeneity of the street. Their proportions styles and facades differ.
The street is more than just buildings though. It’s a living testament to history. It’s a place where the past intertwines with the present. As you walk along Rue Berckmans remember the stories it holds. Remember the lives it has touched. Rue Berckmans awaits you. It’s ready to share its secrets.