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This 3-hour private walking tour explores the Art Nouveau masterpieces of Brussels with a knowledgeable guide who will reveal the vibrant details, imaginative ornamentation, and rich history behind the city’s architectural gems. You’ll encounter the visionary works of architects like Victor Horta and Paul Hankar, whose opulent houses and innovative designs continue to captivate visitors from around the world.
Perfect for Art Nouveau enthusiasts, this tour covers the neighborhoods of St. Gilles, Châtelain, and Ixelles, providing a curated look at the best of Brussels’ artistic legacy. You will spend most of the time discovering façades and the history behind them.
Your private guide will pick you up in the Garde du Midi to start the tour.
Alternatively, the Private Tour can start in a café/brasserie located in Saint-Gilles where your guide will give you an introduction about Art Nouveau and accompany you for a morning drink. The café is decorated in Art Nouveau style but be careful because, as your guide will tell to you, this is not real Art Nouveau from the turn of the 19th to the 20th Century.
From there you will stroll through Rue Defacqz to visit several amazing Art Nouveau buildings there, one of them the house of Paul Hankar, a great Belgian architect and furniture designer, and an innovator in the Art Nouveau style.
The building of the Tassel hotel (1894) gave rise to Art Nouveau and you will learn everything about it. This building was a first major calling card for Victor Horta, who went on to leave his mark on the capital along with the support of other great architects of the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century such as Hankar, van de Velde, etc.
Hôtel Solvay (1900), considered Horta’s most ambitious work, was constructed just one year after the Tassel house, and it was built for the leading chemist Armand Solvay, who gave Horta the creative freedom that he was looking for.
After discovering some other Art Nouveau buildings, if you are tired you may have a break in a nice café in the Rue de Florence. As this is a private tour and you will have a say in the tour itinerary, if you prefer not to stop, the private tour will continue without stopping by.
Later, you will analyze a nice Art Deco building and your guide will explain differences amongst Art Nouveau and Art Deco with practical examples. A while ago we published an article about the differences between these two artistic movements. Porto and Brussels are the two European cities with more art deco examples.
Then, you will head to Square Louis Morichar and from there go to visit the outside of several Art Nouveau buildings located nearby. For the upper middle class in Brussels, working with Victor Horta was a symbol of success and sophistication.
Finally you will arrive at Horta Museum at 25 Rue Américaine, in what it was Horta’s former home and workshop. There, our guide will show you the building façade and explain you what is inside in relation to other Horta’s buildings discovered during the tour. Our private tour will end there at 15.30.
We recommend that if you have time you visit the museum on your own after our tour ends. You may take up to one hour to see it in detail.
This private tour is a good option for those wondering how is Art Nouveau in the city where this art style started.
About Victor Horta:
Art Nouveau was born in 1893 thanks to the visionary mind of Victor Horta. With interesting curvatures of glass and steel, Victor Horta’s masterpieces shaped the face of Brussels, influencing architects all over the world.
As the pioneer of Art Nouveau, Horta introduced groundbreaking styles and materials, like industrial steel and glass, to improve both the aesthetics and functionality of urban residences. This exclusive private tour unveils Horta’s distinctive facades, intricate tile work, iron and wood craftsmanship, and stunning stained glass windows that define the unique Art Nouveau charm of Brussels.
Victor Horta is without doubt the most important exponent of Art Nouveau in Belgium, the artistic-architectural movement that succeeded Neoclassicism and that spread throughout Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Among his works, his home-studio stands out for the quality of its spatial conception and the prolixity of its details. UNESCO, declaring this building as a World Heritage Site, stressed that “the stylistic revolution represented by these works is characterized by the diffusion of light, and the bright connection of the lines of decoration with the structure of the building
Our passionate local expert guide will captivate you with engaging storytelling tailored to your group’s interests. This personalization guarantees a unique and memorable experience that caters to your particular preferences. Once your private tour is booked, we will gather information on your interests and needs to tailor the experience to you. We will also ask you if you have mobility constraints, children, or any special requirements. We will make our best so you have access to the local places of your interest that you wouldn’t find on your own.
We recognize that every group has unique interests, and we tailor this private tour to suit them. Some popular themes we’ve encountered in our Brussels tours include: Art Nouveau, architecture, historical neighborhoods, cafés and restaurants, Belgian beer culture, Art Deco, hidden gems, and Jewish history, or combinations of these elements.
Art Deco has gained popularity, and private tours comparing Art Nouveau and Art Deco, with examples, are in high demand—especially in 2024 and 2025 as Brussels marks Art Deco’s centenary in 2025.
On the day of the tour, we will remain flexible and adjust the itinerary and timings to meet your group’s needs, as every day is unique. Weather conditions may vary, and we are happy to accommodate your preferences for walking or other activities.
The tour starts Tour starts at Saint Gilles (exact address given once you book the private tour), or if you prefer at the entrance of the Garde du Midi.
The tour ends in front of Horta Museum, so you can visit it to end the journey.
No public transport involved, or yes if you want to go quicker.
Entrance fees to the museums or houses that may be visited during the tour. Brussels is continuously opening new Houses to the public, so we can suggest you to visit one of them, or more, depending on your interest.
This is a walking private tour and it is not required the use of public transport. If during the private tour you want to use a public transport like a taxi or bus, the fare is not included.
Food and drinks.
Our private tour does not include a visit to Horta Museum, but we usually end the private tour there so you can visit it afterwards on your own. By the way, Horta Museum is closed on Mondays. If after the tour you want to visit the Horta Museum on your own, entrance fees are as follow: Adults 10€ – Seniors 6€ – Primary/Secondary pupils from 6 to 18 years 3€ – Students 5€. To see information about the entry times and entry prices CLICK HERE.
One-day trip to (Re)-Discover Brussels – This pick-up location is great for those groups and small groups arriving in Brussels by train from Paris or from other cities like Amsterdam, Maastricht or Luxembourg City. With Belgium’s fast train connections, this tour can even be enjoyed on a convenient day trip from Paris—ideal for anyone eager to experience Brussels’ Art Nouveau in a single, unforgettable afternoon.
Languages – While most of our guests prefer our tours in English, we also offer tours in French, Spanish, Italian, and other languages. Simply let us know your preference when booking, and we’ll arrange for a guide who speaks your language.
Unexpected Changes – City events, maintenance work, or weather conditions may affect access to certain buildings, but rest assured, we’ll make the most of your tour by showcasing additional Art Nouveau landmarks in Brussels, such as the iconic Hôtel Tassel or Maison Autrique. If needed, we offer flexibility for cancellations or rescheduling. Please note, your tour will go ahead rain or shine.
Selection of Guides – Our guides are experts in Brussels’ architecture, history, and Art Nouveau, providing a tailored experience that aligns with your specific interests. We recommend booking early to secure the best guide for your tour.
Beyond Art Nouveau – While this tour highlights Brussels’ Art Nouveau heritage, we can also incorporate broader cultural highlights around the city. From museums to dining suggestions, we offer a range of options to enhance your experience.
In the late 19th century, Brussels became the cradle of Art Nouveau architecture, thanks to visionary architects like Victor Horta, Paul Hankar, and Henry van de Velde. Breaking away from traditional, formal styles, they embraced organic forms inspired by nature—flowing lines, floral motifs, and even hints of Japanese design. Horta’s Hôtel Tassel, built in 1893, is often credited as the world’s first Art Nouveau building, marking a radical departure from earlier architectural conventions and introducing Brussels to a style defined by grace and natural harmony. This pioneering movement transformed the capital, as facades became canvases for unique, lively artistic expression.
Brussels’ Art Nouveau heritage is most visible in neighborhoods like Schaerbeek, Ixelles, and Saint-Gilles, where streets are lined with beautifully preserved houses and mansions. These architectural treasures continue to tell the story of a flourishing era when optimism, artistry, and industrial progress converged, bringing about a cultural renaissance. The architectural boom, centered around the 1890s to early 1900s, catered to an emerging urban class eager to experiment with innovative materials and methods, creating homes that were not just functional but artistic statements in their own right.
Despite losses over time, Brussels remains a city with one of the richest Art Nouveau legacies in the world, boasting over 500 surviving structures. Iconic sites like the Horta Museum, the Musical Instruments Museum, and the Maison Autrique invite visitors to experience Art Nouveau in its birthplace, offering an unparalleled window into the style that transformed Brussels into an architectural jewel of Europe.
Belgium, a country rich in artistic heritage, offers a wealth of Art Nouveau treasures beyond Brussels. Antwerp, a vibrant city with a fascinating history, boasts stunning Art Nouveau architecture. If you’re eager to delve deeper into the world of Flemish Art Nouveau, we invite you to explore our dedicated Antwerp page.
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