Margaret commissioned the palace in 1507 — initially in Gothic style, then rebuilt in pure Italian Renaissance form after her architect saw Bramante's work in Rome. The galleried inner courtyard is the architectural prize, and the proportions are still those of a serious court.
Today the building houses the Court of Justice, which means access is limited; the courtyard can usually be visited during working hours, and the exterior on the Keizerstraat is freely admired. Combined with the Hof van Busleyden a few blocks away, it gives a real sense of just how powerful a place this small Flemish city was for a brief window in the early 1500s.