Brussels, Belgium. A weathered stone lion stands guard in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange building (La Bourse). Built in the late 19th century in a neo-classical style, the monumental building was the first sight to catch my eye, after emerging from the metro station into the heart of Brussels.

Lions are a common motif in public spaces, found in various guises around the world. Clever Magazine has been collecting photos and lore about them for years, in an interesting series of articles you can find here.