Visiting the city of Bandung is not complete without coming to Jalan Braga. For those of you who are lovers of history and old things, you must come here.
Photo by uji kanggo gumilang on Unsplash
Bandung was an important city in the Dutch colonial era. This city also has interesting historical places and buildings with stunning European-style architecture such as Gedung Sate, De Vries Building which is located at the junction of Jalan Braga with Jalan Asia Afrika, Hotel Homan, Hotel Preager, Bank Indonesia, Cathedral Church, and many more.
One of the interesting and must-visit historical places in Bandung is Jalan Braga. This 850-meter-long road has an interesting historical story. Here are 5 interesting facts about Jalan Braga that you need to know.
1. Known as Karrenweg or Pedatiweg
In the past, this road was a muddy road that was often traversed by carts. This road connected the coffee warehouse owned by Andreas De Wilde (now the Bandung City Hall) with Jalan Asia Afrika (formerly known as Jalan Raya Pos). Before becoming an elite area and entertainment center during the Dutch era, this street was prone to crime. Not many people were found killed or robbed. Now this road has turned into a road full of vehicles and also an interesting historical tourist attraction.
2. Shopping Place
Towards the end of the 19th century, the city of Bandung experienced developments in development. The Jalan Braga area is no exception in development. Braga is famous as a shopping center for Europeans and also for the upper middle class. Usually, Europeans (especially Dutch people) who live in Bandung are tea plantation entrepreneurs known as Preagerplanters. In fact, according to Haryato Kunto in Bandoeng Tempo Doeloe's Face (1984), Braga was dubbed the most prominent shopping complex area in the Dutch East Indies.
3. Legendary Culinary Place
Legendary culinary places from the Dutch era in Braga are Maison Bogerijen now known as Braga Permai and Sumber Dish. Maison Bogerijen or Bogerijen is a restaurant frequented by high-ranking officials during the Colonial era. It can be said that Bogerijen was a famous luxurious place in its time. This restaurant serves European and Dutch East Indies dishes. Meanwhile, Sumber Dish was formerly named Het Snoephuis, which means Sweet House. Snoephuis is famous for its various choices of bread which have been around since 1929. If you want to feel a taste of the past, be sure to visit Braga Permai (Maison Bogerijen) and Sumber Dish (Het Snoephuis).
4. Is a Famous Fashion Center
Jalan Braga has two well-known and competing fashion stores, namely Au Bon Marche and Onderling Belang. Au Bon Marche has a fashion model that is oriented to France. Even Au Bon Marche was famous for its chic fashion style that reached Batavia at that time. There were also many guests from Batavia who especially came here to buy clothes that were trending in Paris at that time. The store showcases what's trending in Paris at the moment, and in the next two to three weeks it's sure to appear in the shop window section. Meanwhile, Onderling Belang has a fashion direction that is oriented to the Netherlands. However, during the reign of President Soekarno, Onderling Belang changed its name to Sarinah. Both of these stores are equally promoting first-class quality. So that these two stores were visited by the upper middle class in their era. Unfortunately, the Onderling Belang building has been destroyed. But it was rebuilt into Sarinah, a shopping center that sells a variety of local products. Underling Belang itself changed its name to Sarinah during the reign of President Soekarno. Meanwhile, the former Au Bon Marche building is now Node Art Space #4, which is an event venue and place for art performances to be held.
Photo by Alinear Indonesia Docs.
5. First Cinema in Indonesia
De Majestic is the first cinema built in the city of Bandung during the Dutch Colonial era. Previously named Concordia Bioscoop. Designed by a famous architect named Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker. He designed many iconic buildings in Bandung, such as the Asia Afrika Building, the Cathedral Church, the Cipaganti Mosque, the PLN Building, including the De Majestic Cinema building. This building was designed in an Art Deco style, which in the 1920s became a trend in architectural style. The De Majestic cinema building is known as the biscuit tin building because it looks similar to a biscuit tin. In the past, films were only shown at certain hours. Unlike today's cinemas which are open all day, even past midnight for the midnight show schedule. Many European and American films produced by Metro Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) are shown here. At that time, apart from being an entertainment venue in an elite shopping center, this place was also a gathering place for Dutch tea plantation entrepreneurs to enjoy Hollywood movies. Now this place is a cultural heritage that is preserved as a place of Dutch heritage which is full of history.
De Majestic is the first cinema built in the city of Bandung during the Dutch Colonial era. Previously named Concordia Bioscoop. Designed by a famous architect named Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker. He designed many iconic buildings in Bandung, such as the Asia Afrika Building, the Cathedral Church, the Cipaganti Mosque, the PLN Building, including the De Majestic Cinema building. This building was designed in an Art Deco style, which in the 1920s became a trend in architectural style. The De Majestic cinema building is known as the biscuit tin building because it looks similar to a biscuit tin. In the past, films were only shown at certain hours. Unlike today's cinemas which are open all day, even past midnight for the midnight show schedule. Many European and American films produced by Metro Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) are shown here. At that time, apart from being an entertainment venue in an elite shopping center, this place was also a gathering place for Dutch tea plantation entrepreneurs to enjoy Hollywood movies. Now this place is a cultural heritage that is preserved as a place of Dutch heritage which is full of history.