Discover the brilliant light shining from the medieval manuscripts in the KBR museum during Bright Brussels, the festival of lights in Brussels.

Six centuries ago, Brussels belonged to the rich and powerful Dukes of Burgundy. They established a stirring treasure, a unique and fascinating collection of manuscripts: the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy.

Centuries ago, these masterpieces were copied and illuminated by hand, which means that the miniatures in the books were embellished with gold leaf. When light falls on such a manuscript, you get a three-dimensional effect that makes the reflected light seem to shine from the book itself.

During this nocturne, you will not only browse through this brilliant manuscript collection, but you will also get to work with pigment and paintbrush!

Thanks to the thematic focus “Witches avant la lettre”, you will also discover what being a woman actually meant in our regions at the end of the 15th century. From the Virgin Mary to the mermaid.

Tickets are available online, but also on site during the nocturne. 

Practical information

• When? On 11 February, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m
• Where? At the KBR museum
• Covid Safe Ticket? Mandatory
• Price ?
  • Reduced price of € 5 instead of € 11 per person
  • Free for holders of the MuseumPASSmusées and children under 8 years of age

Programme

Open workshop: Painting with Pigments

In the workshops of medieval illuminators, there were no boxes of watercolors or tubes of gouache to be found. Instead, they made their colors from natural materials or with pigments from distant parts of the world.

Come and try it yourself and discover some exceptional manuscripts illuminated this way more than 600 years ago! Suitable for children from the age of 8, but equally fun for adults.

Museum focus: “Witches avant la lettre”

From saints and beguines to sibyls, mermaids, Joan of Arc, the Virgin Mary, Christine de Pizan, female craftsmen and miniaturists… Get to know the many facets of womanhood in the period just before the start of the witch hunt.

On your arrival at the museum, you will receive a brochure explaining more about some thirty manuscripts that depict these “witches avant la lettre”.

Discover the complete programme of Bright Brussels.