Waffles, chocolates, speculoos... It's difficult to resist the sweet attractions of the Belgian capital. As soon as we arrive in this sublime setting nestled in one of the oldest covered passages in Europe, we indulge in a hot drink accompanied by a tasty madeleine. Renowned for being the oldest biscuit factory in Brussels, Maison Dandoy seduces as much with its sweet treats as with the elegance of its Art Nouveau-inspired decor.

DANDOY HOUSE
2 Galerie du Roi, 1000 Brussels
Mon. to Thu. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Madeleine at €8.50 - Cake at €9

To understand Art Nouveau, we must understand its elusive leader Victor Horta. That's good, a museum bears his name and constitutes the most perfect introduction to this thematic escapade. Passing the door of this gray stone residence, we enter directly into the intimacy of the creator and disciple of Viollet-le-Duc by exploring his personal home and his workshop. Two buildings united in one and the same house listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. It has been more than a hundred years since the architect left the premises but its beauty remains intact: stained glass windows, furniture, wall paintings form a harmonious whole down to the smallest details, from the mosaics to the door handles. It is difficult to imagine here that the baron did not define himself as an Art Nouveau artist but as a modern Gothic. An exhibition built around his personal archives now attempts to unravel the Horta mystery…

HORTA MUSEUM
27 rue americaine, 1060 Brussels
Tue. to Fri. 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., closed Mon.
Price: €12 - TR: €10/3.50 - Free under 6 years
Reservation at + 32 2 543 04 90

At the corner of Avenue Brugmann, a stone's throw from the Horta Museum, sits this house with serpentine lines well known to the people of Brussels. Impossible to miss it with its generous shapes, its bas-relief and its two asymmetrical facades. And yet, the Maison Hannon is above all the story of a rebirth because this masterpiece of Art Nouveau almost disappeared. Abandoned, squatted, threatened with demolition, the House went through many trials before undergoing a major renovation in the 1980s and becoming an art center dedicated to photography. End of the story ? Quite the contrary! Transformed into a museum, the identically refurnished mansion will finally reopen its doors to the public. A great opportunity to go back in time and admire the original furniture by Émile Gallé or Louis Majorelle enveloped by this monumental fresco of the Arcadian landscape by Paul Baudoüin.

MAISON HANNON
Opening to the public on June 1, 2023
1 BC de la Jonction, 1060 Saint-Gilles

How on earth could critics of the time describe this luxurious residence as “noodle style”? Once through the doors of the hotel of the very powerful Solvay family, the incomprehension persists as this building constitutes one of the most beautiful creations of Victor Horta. Inside, a first staircase equipped with a swirling golden metal balustrade leads us to a sublime glass roof whose red-orange tones highlight the majesty of the place. A jewel listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

HOTEL SOLVAY
224 BC Louise, 1000 Brussels
Visits scheduled for 03/02, 03/04, 03/16, 03/25
Reservation at +32 2 640 56 45

Nourished by this grandiose architecture, its undulating lines and feminine curves, we are determined to also introduce ourselves to the art of stained glass. Never mind ! Several workshops in the capital occasionally open their doors to share their knowledge with us by organizing à la carte courses to learn glass cutting, lead assembly, color harmony, etc.

FLORAL STAINED GLASS
33 rue de Dublin, 1050 Ixelles
Classes Monday, Thursday and Friday 6 p.m.-9 p.m. by reservation
Price: €99

To say that this walk whetted our appetite would be an understatement. We stay in the Art Nouveau theme with this institution which plays on its charms to better coax us… The magic operates irresistibly in this authentic and friendly brasserie with elegant woodwork and intact stained glass windows. As for the cuisine, the chef offers us traditional Belgian dishes, simple and effective.

THE WATER BARRER
48 BC Jean Volders, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Tue-Sun 11am-11:30pm, closed Mon.
Flemish stew at €18.50

Behind an anonymous facade of the Parvis Saint-Gilles lies a little-known treasure of Brussels heritage that can be visited occasionally. A former cinema hall abandoned for over 40 years. Discover this mecca of the Roaring Twenties with its marble staircase, its walls covered in mirrors, its Art Nouveau lines and its Moorish-style ballroom.

AEGIDIUM
18 parvis de Saint-Gilles, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Occasional visits

Housed in the former Old England stores, the MIM remains an obligatory stop for any Art Nouveau lover. Beyond its breathtaking architecture, the Museum of Musical Instruments contains more than 7,000 pieces from all periods, making this collection one of the most important in the world. Those in a hurry will go directly to the tenth floor roof terrace offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the historic center.

MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
2 rue Montagne de la Cour, 1000 Brussels
Tue. to Fri. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mon.
Price: €15 - TR: €13/8 - Free under 18s

No need to explore the most beautiful facades of the capital, sometimes you just need to stroll through the old town to find real gems. Brussels is full of sumptuous boutiques frozen in their Art Nouveau setting. Among them, the old Niguet shirtmaker by Paul Hankar, the Bon Secours pharmacy, the Marjolaine antiques store and the legendary Le Falstaff tavern.

Impossible to imagine a visit to Brussels without a trip to the Belgian Comic Strip Center! What if for once we ignored the names of Hergé, Franquin or Peyo and raised our heads to admire the building? Behind this majestic glass roof and this metal structure hides the baron of Art Nouveau who created a whole series of buildings in the early 1900s to house department stores.

BELGIAN COMICS CENTER
20 rue des Sables, 1000 Brussels
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Mon.
Price: €13 - TR: €10/6

Who was Privat Livemont, star of this lovely exhibition? Let's enter one of the first Art Nouveau buildings to discover the work of a genius painter, decorator and poster designer nicknamed the Belgian Mucha. Recognized as much for the finesse of his line as his colorful palette, the artist remains considered one of the great masters of graffiti thanks to his refined and refined compositions.

AUTRIC HOUSE
From March 9, 2023 to January 14, 2024
226 Chaussée de Haecht, 1030 Schaerbeek
Wed. to Sun. 12 p.m.-6 p.m., closed Mon. and Tue.
Price: €7 - TR: €5/3

Baroque, extravagant, excessive... There is no shortage of words to describe this house! It must be said that the building, born in the mind of a 21-year-old architect at the beginning of the last century, has caused a lot of ink to flow. Long criticized for its excess, its disconcerting proportions and its theatrical decor, the building, which is only 4m wide, is today one of the most famous Art Nouveau spots in Brussels.

MAISON SAINT-CYR
11 square Ambiorix, 1000 Brussels

We could already find the Victor Horta touch at the Art & History with the perfect reproduction of luxurious Wolfers jewelry. We will soon be able to continue our tête-à-tête with the architect in this leading Brussels institution with its brand new course dedicated to Art Nouveau. This will present several exceptional pieces including the famous Horta winter garden, saved at the last minute from demolition in the 1960s.

WOLFERS FRÈRES STORE - ART AND HISTORY MUSEUM
New route from fall 2023
10 Parc du Cinquantenaire, 1000 Brussels
Tue. to Fri. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mon.
Price: €10 - TR: €8/4 - Free under 18s

After this long escapade through Brussels, we allow ourselves a break at the Parc du Cinquantenaire while taking the time to admire the geometric facade of the Maison Cauchie and this caryatid with raised arms supporting a cartouche on which four little words are inscribed: “For us. By U.S ". A profession of faith written in golden letters by the architect-decorator Paul Cauchie and his wife Lina at the initiative of this sumptuous house.

CAUCHIE HOUSE
5 rue des Francs, 1040 Etterbeek
Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 2 p.m.-5 p.m., closed Sun.-Fri.
Price: €9.50

According to Horta himself, the plan of this house with multiple extensions is the most daring he has ever drawn. If this temple of Art Nouveau commissioned by the very controversial Edmond van Eetvelde – diplomat and close advisor to King Leopold II – is rarely revealed to the public, luck seems to be on our side! For the first time in its history, this year the mansion is opening its two buildings to visitors simultaneously. The unique opportunity to discover this elegant building and its winter garden, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, and to admire the original African mahogany furniture or its captivatingly shaped pink marble fireplace. The charming hotel has lost none of its splendor and confirms it a little more with a new project, that of soon welcoming within its walls a cultural center dedicated to Art Nouveau in dialogue with the contemporary scene.

VAN EETVELDE OFFICE AND HOTEL
Opening May 6, 2023
2 BC Palmerston, 1000 Brussels

Let's end this weekend in style in one of the most famous brasseries in the capital, an Art Nouveau style restaurant which counted among its regulars a certain Jacques Brel... Here we let ourselves be carried away by the old charm , by the capital sympathy of the waiters and by the generosity of simple cuisine.

THE CIRIO
18 rue de la Bourse, 1000 Brussels
Tlj. 10am-12am
Half and half at €4 - Dishes between €10 and €16.50