Uccle (
French, pronounced ) or
Ukkel (
Dutch, pronounced ) is one of the nineteen
municipalities located in the
Brussels-Capital Region of
Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.
History
According to legend, Uccle’s church of
St. Peter was dedicated by
Pope Leo III in the year 803, with
Charlemagne and Gerbald,
Bishop of Liège, attending the ceremony. During the following centuries, several noble families built their manor and took residency here. The first mention of the name
Woluesdal, now evolved into
Wolvendael, dates from 1209. In 1467,
Isabella of Portugal, wife of
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy founded a
Franciscan convent on Uccle’s territory. Later, Uccle became the
judiciary capital of the area including
Brussels. Throughout the early stages of its history, however, the village of Uccle always had a predominantly rural character and lived mostly from the products of
forestry and
agriculture.
At the end of the 18th century, a few years after the
French Revolution, Uccle merged with neighbouring territories to become a
commune, with its own
mayor and municipal assembly. It had to wait until 1828, however, for the
Dutch authorities to allow the construction of the first town hall. This was a time of economic prosperity and growth, stimulated by the proximity to the two main roads linking Brussels to the industrial south. A newer and larger town hall was built between 1872 and 1882. Banker and
philanthropist...
Read More