Brussels Sights

  1. Domaine Royal

    The Domaine Royal is home to Belgium's ruling family. King Albert II and Queen Paola live in the Villa Belvédère; former Queen Fabiola (widow of King Baudouin) inhabits the Château Stuyvenbergh; and the heir-apparent Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde occupy the main building, the Château Royal de Laeken. All the chateaux are out of bounds to tourists, but you can visit the nearby Serres Royales, the Pavillon Chinois and the Tour Japonaise.

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  2. European Parliament

    The distinctive domed European Parliament sits next to Parc Léopold. Opened in 1998 by King Albert II, it's all steel and blue glass and is nicknamed 'Caprice des Dieux' (Whim of the Gods) after a French cheese. The European Parliament is the EU's legislative branch; elections are held every five years (next in 2010). It is the only EU institution that meets and debates in public.

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  3. 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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  7. 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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  8. Maison St-Cyr

    The haunting façade of this narrow building (up for sale in 2006 for around €730 ,000) 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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