In Brussels, there’s the Grand Place, the Atomium, waffles, fries… and then there are the Art Nouveau houses. These iconic buildings, renowned for their dazzling architecture, have cemented Brussels’ status as the world capital of Art Nouveau. Here are 6 must-see spots you can visit in Brussels.
Solvay Hotel
Of all Victor Horta’s designs, the Hôtel Solvay—built between 1895 and 1903 for the son of the chemist of the same name—is considered by many to be his most accomplished work. The façade features multiple balconies.
Inside, a grand lobby with a double-flight staircase leads you upstairs, overlooked by a Pointillist painting by Van Rysselberghe. The salons, billiard room, and music room impress with their warm, chestnut tones. On the third floor, a former winter garden sparkles beneath a glass roof. The use of light here is dazzling.
Hannon House
Located in Saint-Gilles, the Maison Hannon was designed by Belgian architect Jules Brunfaut in 1902. Long left to the ravages of vandalism, it underwent a meticulous renovation that allowed it to reopen as a museum in 2022.
Its curves and balconies, visible from the outside, already set the tone for what lies within… An extraordinary semicircular fresco (by the painter Paul Albert Baudouin) follows the contours of the stairwell, whose ironwork seems to sparkle brilliantly against the stained-glass windows.
Horta Museum
Formerly the home and studio of architect Victor Horta, the Horta Museum was built between 1898 and 1901. It is considered one of the symbols of Art Nouveau’s heyday. It is even regarded as a true center for Art Nouveau research!
Spanning five levels, from the basement to the top floor, you can admire the furniture, stained-glass windows, mosaics, paintings, and other intricate details. All are imbued with the very essence of Art Nouveau. The building, unfortunately, is a sad reflection of the social class divisions of that era.
Maison Autrique
Designed by Victor Horta in 1893, the Maison Autrique is located on Chaussée de Haecht in Schaerbeek. It is Horta’s first major work, commissioned by the Belgian engineer Eugène Autrique.
The tour of the house takes you from the basement to the attic. In the basements, an old kitchen and a laundry room evoke the furnishings and utensils of a bygone era. On the ground floor, the large living room and its piano open onto a small garden. Upstairs, the bedrooms feature period paintings and antique furniture. A small curio shop, mannequins, and a voice-over await you in the attic.
Cauchie House
Designed by Belgian architect Paul Cauchie, the house that bears his name is one of the greatest Art Nouveau masterpieces in Brussels. It was built in 1905 and is famous for its numerous, imposing sgraffito decorations that adorn its interior and front facade.
Surprisingly, the left side door on the facade exists purely for the sake of symmetry… it leads nowhere, except to a closet! Although the guided tour was very interesting, you’ll only see a small part of the house: the ground floor and a gallery in the basement (the upper floors are off-limits). It’s still worth a visit for its decor and history.
Van Eetvelde Hotel
At Square Ambiorix, the exterior facade of the Hôtel Van Eetvelde stands in stark contrast to the surrounding houses. Horta built this Art Nouveau house in 1895 for the unsavory Van Eetvelde.
Despite the unsavory character who once lived in this residence, some visitors may be interested in its interior rotunda, where a skylight illuminates the stained-glass windows, columns, and glasswork. The house was the subject of a documentary produced for the Musée d’Orsay and television in 1995.
