Brussels is a veritable showcase for Art Nouveau, a refined architectural style that has shaped the city’s soul. Elegant facades and floral ornamentation catch the eye on every street corner and invite contemplation. Did you know that you can visit some of them with the Art Nouveau Pass? Here are the 10 most beautiful Art Nouveau houses in Brussels!
1. Musical Instruments Museum
Arguably the most beautiful and remarkable (with its “Old England” style and incredible balconies designed by Paul Saintenoy in 1899), the Musée des Instruments de Musique is a must-see work of Art Nouveau in Brussels.
📍 Address: Rue Montagne de la Cour 2
🚇 Palais or Royale
2. Maison Cauchie
Built by the eponymous architect Paul Cauchie, the Maison Cauchie is a must-see in Brussels if you’re wandering the streets of the Cinquantenaire district. A masterpiece of Art Nouveau, its interior is open to the public every Saturday.
📍 Address: Rue des Francs 5
🚇 Mérode
3. Maison Saint-Cyr
Designed by architect Gustave Strauven, the Art Nouveau-style Maison Saint-Cyr is a real gem, named after the painter Georges de St-Cyr, whom it housed in the early 20th century. Its ironwork and balconies are breathtakingly beautiful.
📍 Address: Square Ambiorix 11
🚇 Schuman
4. Nelissen House
With its multiple storeys of white and green bricks, balconies with curved ironwork and, above all, its huge circular bay typical of geometric Art Nouveau, the Maison Nelissen (named after its architect) is one of our favorites.
📍 Address: Av. du Mont Kemmel 5 (in Forest)
🚇 Albert
5. Hôtel Solvay
This masterpiece by Art Nouveau specialist Victor Horta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the woodwork on the façade is certainly pleasing, it’s inside that the real enchantment takes place. And you can visit it!
📍 Address: Avenue Louise 224
🚇 Bailli
And if you love the world of Victor Horta? Don’t miss his Museum at 27 Rue Américaine!
6. Maison Autrique
With its pretty balcony and exposed beams, its rosy allure and its large windows with inlaid marquise, the Maison Autrique looks like something straight out of a fairy tale! Victor Horta is never far away, as we also owe this masterpiece to him!
📍 Address: Chau. de Haecht 266 (in Schaerbeek)
🚇 S aint-Servais Church
7. Hankar House
Along with Victor Horta, Paul Hankar is one of the two pillars of Art Nouveau in Brussels. His house in Saint-Gilles, with its burgundy tones and wrought-iron balustrades, is full of charm. Watch the light streaming through the awnings!
📍 Address: Rue Defacqz 71 (in Saint-Gilles)
🚇 Janson
8. Van Dyck House
Lesser-known than its sister buildings, the Maison Van Dyck nevertheless possesses an almost Gothic charm that should delight tourists and architecture enthusiasts alike. Admire its two (completely different) bays and its incredible ship’s bow gable!
📍 Address: Bd Clovis 85/87 (in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode)
🚇 Madou or Schuman
9. Maison De Beck
Little-known to Brussels residents and off the tourist trail, Maison De Beck is nonetheless a dazzling architectural treasure with its green ironwork, wooden frames, red and white bricks and arched dormers.
📍 Address: Av. Paul Dejaer 9 (in Saint-Gilles)
🚇 Barrière
10. Ciamberlani Hotel
Built by Paul Hankar in 1897, the Hotel Ciamberlani is stunning for its exposed metal structure, windows of all shapes and gold sgraffito up to the roof. The hotel was even restored in 2006.
📍 Address: Rue Defacqz 48
🚇 Defacqz