Editing History of Belgium (section)

=== Culture ===
Artistic and literary culture in Belgium began a revival towards the late 19th century. A core element of Belgian nationalism was the scientific study of its national history. The movement was led by Godefroid Kurth, a student of the German historian [[Leopold von Ranke|Ranke]]. Kurth taught modern historical methods to his students at the [[University of Liège]]. The most prominent Belgian historian was [[Henri Pirenne]], who was influenced by this method during his period as a student of Kurth.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Jacques |last=Le Goff |title=History and Memory |publisher=Columbia University Press |date=1992 |isbn=978-0-2310-7591-6 |translator-first=Steven |translator-last=Rendall |translator-first2=Elizabeth |translator-last2=Claman |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VxV77VaWPJkC&pg=PA198 198] |ol=1717341M}}</ref>

==== Architecture and Art Nouveau ====
[[File:Brussels Cinquantenaire R03.jpg|thumb|The [[Cinquantenaire|Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark]] [[Cinquantenaire Arcade|memorial arcade]], built in 1905]]
{{See also|Art Nouveau}}

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, monumental [[Historicism (architecture)|Historicism]] and [[Neoclassical architecture in Belgium|Neoclassicism]] dominated the urban Belgian landscape, particularly in government buildings. Championed in part by King [[Leopold II of Belgium|Leopold II]], the style can be seen in the [[Law Courts of Brussels|Palais de Justice]] (designed by [[Joseph Poelaert]]) and the [[Cinquantenaire]].

Nevertheless, Brussels became one of the major European cities for the development of the [[Art Nouveau]] style in the late 1890s. The architects [[Victor Horta]], [[Paul Hankar]], and [[Henry van de Velde]] became particularly famous for their designs, many of which survive today in Brussels. Four buildings designed by Horta are listed by [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]]. Horta's largest work, the ''[[Maison du Peuple (Brussels)|Maison du Peuple]]'' was demolished in 1960.