Masterpieces of Horta- Exceptional opening to the public of Art Nouveau mansions
Guided tours of Solvay house, Max Hallet house, Tassel house, van Eetvelde house and Autrique house!
214 Brussels’ Breweries and Beers
Want to see why Belgium is a beer country ? This tour pays a visit to some typical pubs including the last active brewery in Brussels. We will visit the nicest pubs and the most impressive brewery buildings, while the history of this tradition is explained along the way. We will visit the Cantillon brewery, the last real brewery in Brussels, where the opportunity to taste the 'Lambiek' beer should, of course, not be missed. The visit to the brewery costs 4,50 euro extra.
You don't have any bike! You can rent one in Pro Velo (Ixelles)
→ Sat 4/6, Sat 30/7, Sat 24/9
- 4:00
- 13 €
- Pro Velo
206 Totally Horta
This three-hour coach tour explores the remaining buildings of Victor Horta, the leading Belgian Art Nouveau architect. A unique opportunity to find out more about the buildings designed by this architectural genius through an examination of three of them: a luxury townhouse (Van Eetvelde house), a primary school (Saint-Ghislain kindergarten) and a former wholesale drapery shop (Waucquez store).
→ Sat 24/9, Sat 26/11
- 3:00
- 20 €
- ARAU
200 Brussels 1900 - Art nouveau
Over the last 30 years, this coach tour has proved the most popular and wellknown of ARAU’s tours. The tour helps participants to understand the place of Art Nouveau in Brussels, its origins, its technical and stylistic characteristics, and the personalities of its most wellknown architects. The tour travels through several districts of the city to show participants beautiful Art Nouveau facades, some of which are UNESCO world Heritage Sites. The tour also offers the chance to visit extraordinary Art Nouveau interiors, including some not normally open to the public. Each tour includes at least two interiors from the following list, subject to availability : Victor Horta’s Van Eetvelde house, Winssinger house, Autrique house or Waucquez store (now the Belgian Strip Cartoon Centre), Henri Jacobs’ Schaerbeek School No.1 or School No.13, Paul Hamesse’s Cohn-Donnay house (now De Ultieme Hallucinatie bar-restaurant), Fernand Symons’ Palais du Vin. Separate tours in French and English on the fourth Saturday of each month. On the last Saturdays of September and November, this tour becomes the “Totally Horta” tour.
→ on saturdays
- 3:00
- 20 €
- ARAU
203 Tassel House
This house, built in 1893 to the designs of Victor Horta, occupies an important place in the history of architecture: it is the first manifestation of the Art Nouveau style in Brussels. All the characteristics that Horta would go on to develop in his later buildings are present in this house: the exposed metal structure, the integration of the decor with the structure, the fuidity of the spaces, the openings to allow natural light inside the building. Today the house is occupied by the European Food Information Concil (EUFIC).
→ Sat 2/4,4/6, 6/8, 3/9,1/10
- 1:00
- 20 €
- Voir et Dire Bruxelles
213 Brussels seen through its taverns
A convivial tour exploring the many sides of Brussels' taverns which tell much about the town's past and the evolution of tastes and social habits. The tavern decoration reveals the architectural trends and fashions of the time. Two refreshing stopovers will enable you to taste the atmosphere.
→ Sat 23/7, Sat 17/9, Sat 8/10, Sat 5/11, Sat 17/12, Sat 7/5
- 3:00
- 19 €
- Brussels Chatterguides
201 Max Hallet House
A masterpiece by Victor Horta built between 1902 and 1905, this house combines living accommodation with huge, light- filled reception spaces where curves and counter-curves reflect each other harmoniously in splendid stained-glass skylights and windows. The huge staircase is at the heart of the house, and is made up of two flights of white marble stairs, bathed in daylight from the verandah on the first landing and from a huge skylight above the second landing.
→ Sat 16/4, 21/5, 18/6, 15/10, 19/11 and 17/12
- 1:00
- 25 €
- Voir et Dire Bruxelles
205 Autrique House
Designed and built by Victor Horta in 1893, the Autrique House heralds the arrival of the Art Nouveau style by its structual and decorative innovations. It underwent an exemplary restoration and now houses a scenography designed by François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters.
→ Sat 16/4, 15/10 and 17/12
- 1:00
- 10 €
- Voir et Dire Bruxelles
209 The industrial heritage along the canal
Around the canal, Brussels conserves many signs, remains and sites from its industrial past as old factories most of the time recovered into houses or offices, or social housing destined to host the working class. Today, many factories are still producing delicious surprises such as chocolate factories, artisanal brewery, distributor of wines…
You don't have any bike! You can rent one in Pro Velo (Ixelles)
→ Sat 29/10
- 3:30
- 13 €
- Pro Velo
215 Chocolate walk
From milk (min 30% cocoa) to bittersweet (70% and up) chocolate and from mild to intense flavours, you will discover what makes Belgian “sweet gold” so special. We’ll stop by some world famous chocolate makers such as Neuhaus, Corné and Mary as well as new shining stars such as Marcolini, Blondeel, Darcis, Ledent and Gerbaud. A tasty experience you don’t want to miss !
→ on sundays
- 2:30
- 15 €
- Brussels Chatterguides
202 Solvay House
This was Victor Horta’s largest private house, commissioned by the industrial magnate Armand Solvay. Construction began in 1894, and the architect expressed the principle of a “total work of art” by successfully combining top-quality materials with innovative techniques. The range of red and orange hues reinforces the luxurious and comfortable atmosphere. The building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accessible to children from 10 years.
→ Sat 7/5, 2/7, 3/9,5/11
- 1:00
- 40 €
- Voir et Dire Bruxelles
199 Art Nouveau in the Horta Area
Art nouveau offers a wide range of variations, each one more original than others. Some buildings are geometrical, others organic, all of them showing amazing distinctive features which reflect the feelings of architects or commissioners. Arkadia takes you in Horta's old district to reveal Art nouveau as an ever surprising and fascinating kaleidoscope.
→ Sat 13/8, Sun 13/11
- 2:00
- 9 €
- Arkadia
204 van Eetvelde House
Victor Horta designed and built this house between 1895 and 1897 for Edmond van Eetvelde, adviser to King Leopold II, and General Secretary of the Congo Free State, Horta's masterpiece is arranged around a lightwell with a splendid stained-glass dome with delicate metal supports. Horta was recalled to extend the house twice and the resulting mansion offers a summary of the evolution of his style.
→ Sat 21/5, 18/6 and 19/11
- 1:00
- 15 €
- Voir et Dire Bruxelles