Brussels Arts Nouveaux

ARTS NOUVEAUX TOUR

4 hours , 140,00 euros,
35.00 for each added hour

    In the years 1960/1970, after the International Brussels Exhibition, some building contractors, helped by some local politicians, decided to give Brussels a "new look".

    At about the same time, Brussels was choosen to become the "Capital of Europe" or Capital of the "European Union" called "Common Market" in these years.

    Therefore, Brussels suffered the effects of a real architectural carnage! Magnificent aereas and beautiful houses, just desappeared, often during the night, with no official authorization. The fines or penalties were much cheaper than all the administrative procedures.

    An artistic or cultural heritage is a bit like when a till gets empty, we start to appreciate the coins left. The last contractor who destroyed a house, avenue de Tervueren, was sentenced to rebuild the house "like it was"....now, we have a hole there since about twenty years..... But it worked!

    Responsible people realized that most of our heritage was gone and, at once, we "discovered" our local, but recent, architectural monuments. I have to cenfess that, as a kid, I never heard the name of "HORTA" as a precursor.
    For some economical reasons, just like someone inherits a castle, many houses were empty for a while, hard to heat and to maintain, then, finally bought for "peanuts" and restored privately. This way, most of the houses don't accept any visits, but at least reminds proudly!

    According to the time of the day, we will visit the Horta House. Visits are possible from 02.00pm, on appointment.

    Marvelous structure of the " Old England " edifice built in 1886.

    This splendid Art Nouveau Building by the architect Paul Saintenoy and the neo-classical by B. Guimard.
This was built for the British firm " Old England ".
Today it became a famous Instrumentals Museum

    The home of architect and decorative artist Paul Coachie dates from 1905 and has a remarkable facade almost enterely decorated in Sgraffito, a technique similar to fresco painting.