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The Cercle Gaulois, in full the Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire, is a Belgian club. The club has the aim of constituting a friendly, intellectual, artistic and literary meeting place, free of any political, cultural or philosophical tendency. Its current President is Geoffroy Generet.
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The club is situated in the historic Vauxhall building, in Brussels Park, behind the Théâtre Royal du Parc, on 5 Rue de la Loi.
History
The Cercle Royal Artistique et Littéraire ("Artistic and Literary Royal Circle") was founded in Brussels on 23 November 1848. The Cercle de la Toison d’Or ("Circle of the Golden Fleece") was founded in Brussels on 23 December 1911, its name was changed on 13 June 1919 into Cercle Gaulois ("Gallic Circle"). The Cercle Gaulois became Cercle Royal Gaulois ("Gallic Royal Cercle") by authorization of his Majesty King Leopold III of Belgium on 16 February 1937. In 1950 the Cercle Royal Gaulois merged with the Cercle Royal Artistique et Littéraire, and changed its name into Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire.
Functions
Today, the Cercle serves many purposes. It organises concerts, exhibitions and conferences in which all forms of art are represented, including culinary art. Following a tradition that dates back to 1971, every Tuesday evening, a Cercle member is appointed master of fine dining. This member creates a menu together with a head chef and presents it to the guests. At the end of the meal, this member is appraised.