Along the dike in Ostend you will find the Venetian and Royal Galleries.
The Royal Galleries were completed in 1905. They are about 400m long and served to protect the wealthy citizens from sun and rain during their walk. They connect the royal chalet with the Wellington racecourse. The Thermal Palace was built against the Galleries in the early 1930s. Today it is a 4-star hotel that still breathes Belle Epoque atmosphere.
In 1900 Henri Maquet designed the first royal gallery at the request of King Leopold II: an L-shaped, closed and covered connection between the royal chalet and a large octagonal salon. The gallery is now known as the "Venetian Galleries", referring to the classicist architecture of Venice. When the Royal Family decided to stop using their residence at sea, the city of Ostend obtained a concession for the whole complex. It had to get a cultural destination. The Venetian Galleries were renovated in 1998 - 1999 and are now an exhibition space.
Photo taken on the dike in Ostend on 26 January 2021.
Welcome to my shop,
My name is Didier de Borle and I have been active in photography for 50+ years. Since March 2013, I have also been doing digital photography and digital art. I prefer to introduce myself as an 'image maker' rather than a photographer.
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