Architectural, Cultural sights in Brussels
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A
Maison Cauchie
Built in 1905, this stunning house was the home of architect and painter Paul Cauchie (1875-1952), and its sgraffito façade, adorned with graceful female figures, is one of the most beautiful in Brussels. A petition saved the house from demolition in 1971 and since 1975 it has been a protected monument. Try timing a visit to meet the limited opening hours; if that's not possible, the façade alone definitely warrants a visit.
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B
Musée David et Alice van Buuren
South of Ixelles in the wealthy residential enclave of Uccle, this Art Deco showpiece was built in 1928 by Dutch banker and art collector, David Van Buuren. Slip on the (supplied) plastic shoe coverings to pad through the home, built from exotic materials such as ivory, to view paintings including a version of the Fall of Icarus by Pieter Breugel the Elder, and Peeling Potatoes by Vincent Van Gogh.
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C
Musée Antoine Wiertz
Down the road from the Musée des Sciences Naturelles is the Musée Antoine Wiertz - if you're into the shocking or nasty, it may appeal. Antoine Wiertz (1806-65) was a 19th-century Brussels artist bent on painting giant religious canvases depicting hell and other frenzied subjects. The building was Wiertz's home and studio and was also once the residence of the noted Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience.
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D
Hôtel de Ville
Ironically, Brussels’ gargoyled, Gothic-style town hall, constructed in 1402, was the only building on the Grand Place to escape the 1695 French bombardment, despite being the intended target. Adorned with stone reliefs of nobility, its 96m-high tower is topped by a gilded statue of St Michel, the city’s patron saint. Today it houses the city’s tourist office, Brussels International.
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E
Hôtel Van Eetvelde
While the outside of this building is unusual, the interior is another Horta masterpiece (1895-1901). It was commissioned by Baron Van Eetvelde, Minister for the Congo at that time and the country's highest-paid civil servant. Exotic timbers stud the interior, and there's a central glass dome infused with African-inspired plant motifs. Admission is limited to ARAU tours.
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F
Hôtel Solvay
Horta designed this in 1894 at the age of 33 and it's considered one of his masterpieces. It was commissioned by the Solvay family (soft-drink manufacturers), who gave him free rein in matters of design and budget. It's open only to ARAU tours; if you can't time that, the hints of Art Nouveau visible on the outside are worth a look.
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G
Maison St-Cyr
The haunting façade of this narrow building is an extravagance of knotted and twisted ironwork. It was built in 1903 for the painter Léonard St-Cyr by Gustave Strauven (1878-1919), who worked as an apprentice to Horta and also built Art Nouveau houses in Schaerbeek.
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H
Maison du Roi (King's House)
A guildhall opposite the Hôtel de Ville, this dark, brooding building was never home to royalty, despite the name. These days it houses the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles.
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I
Maison Autrique
The restored, 1893-built Maison Autrique, Victor Horta’s first creation showcases Art Nouveau architecture.
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