Flagey
Located on the edge of the Flagey square and next to the Ixelles ponds, this building – formerly the headquarters of the national radio and television institution – has now more than ever become a crossroad where artistic disciplines can meet and exchange ideas. Culture lovers of all ages are welcome in this beautiful Art Deco building, to take part in various events which range from concerts of jazz, world, classical and contemporary music, to film events and video projects. Each year, Flagey has the honor of receiving some of the world’s most prominent artists, yet it still insists on offering opportunities to younger (Belgian) talents.
Thanks to the structural support of the different Belgian communities, and because of the exceptional acoustic qualities of the concert studios, the diversity of programming and events such as the Flagey Piano Days and the Brussels Jazz Festival, Flagey is today one of the leading culture houses on the national as well as the international scene.
Flagey
Étangs d'Ixelles
An extension of the gardens of La Cambre Abbey, the Ixelles ponds are a pleasant place to stroll in an architecturally rich neighbourhood. It has mansions of varying styles: Art Nouveau and Art Deco, neo-classical, Flemish Renaissance and Gothic.
Continue your walk in the other green spaces close to the ponds: the gardens of La Cambre Abbey, the Bois de la Cambre and Tenbosch Park.
There's so much to see and do around the ponds, starting with the magnificent Solvay House, a former mansion that is now a museum. You can also visit the CIVA, the Meunier Museum and the Children's Museum. If you love a good game, head to Escape Hunt and Escape Rush.
For a gourmet break, you can stop at Café Belga, Racines, humus x hortense and My Tannour.
Étangs d'Ixelles
The Gardens of La Cambre Abbey
La Cambre Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery that was founded in 1201 by a Benedictine woman. Marvel at the buildings that once made up the site, including the Gothic church, the cloister, and the chapel of Saint Boniface. The gardens are located near place Flagey, between the Ixelles ponds and the Bois de la Cambre. They were created in the French style at the beginning of the 18th century and have become the setting for La Cambre graduate and postgraduate school for the arts.
A stone’s throw away, the Bois de la Cambre, one of the Brussels-Capital Region’s biggest parcs is a gateway to the Sonian Forest. Nearby you’ll find gastronomic restaurants like the Villas in the Sky, Emily and Lorraine.
For a spot of culture, visit Villa Empain, the Art Deco former residence of Baron Louis Empain, designed in the early 1930s by Michel Polak. Today, it houses the Boghossian Foundation, a centre of art and dialogue between the cultures of East and West. The Foundation offers temporary exhibitions and visits of its interior and gardens.
The Gardens of La Cambre Abbey
Horta Museum
The Horta Museum is housed in the house and studio of the architect Victor Horta (1861-1947). Both buildings were built from 1898 to 1901 and are typical of the height of Art Nouveau. The interior of the house has been largely preserved: mosaics, stained-glass windows, furniture, wall paintings form a harmonious whole that shows subtlety down to the smallest detail. The museum is also a centre for research on Victor Horta and Art Nouveau. The architect's personal archive, a collection of plans of his buildings and the library are accessible to the public by appointment. Reservation of a time slot online is mandatory. Last access at 16:45.
Horta Museum
Solvay House
Architect: Victor Horta - 1895/1898
This luxury townhouse was built by Victor Horta in 1894 for the son of captain of industry Ernest Solvay. The architect was given “carte blanche” and designed the interior and the furniture down to the smallest detail. On the façade, two symmetric bow windows surmounted by balconies are seen to protrude across two floors. Indoors it is a visual extravaganza, with the sheer range of red-orange hues on offer only acting to underpin the atmosphere of luxury and comfort. A must-see building.
Please note : Children under 10 years of age are not admitted to the guided tours.
Solvay House
Boghossian Foundation - Villa Empain
Opening of Villa Empain to the public according to several themes of organised activities and events (exhibitions, concerts, conferences, etc.) from 2010. La Fondation Boghossian has its international office in Villa Empain, on which restoration work began in 2008. With the Stoclet building, constructed by the Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann in 1911, Villa Empain is undoubtedly one of the finest masterpieces of Art Deco architecture in Brussels. In 1930, Baron Louis Empain, then aged 21 years, had this 2,500-metre-square mansion built on the prestigious Avenue des Nations, which was later renamed Avenue Franklin Roosevelt. He entrusted the building of this fine house to the Swiss architect Michel Polak, assisted by his colleague Alfred Hoch. The plan designed for Baron Empain on a 55-acre plot included a monumental villa with four façades in polished granite, a garden surrounding a swimming pool ornamented with a pergola, and a caretaker's lodge. The modern and luxurious nature of this structure soon aroused enthusiasm and curiosity. It is true that the variety and quality of the materials used (marble, polished granite, bronze, wrought iron, stained-glass windows and precious woods), the sophistication of the details and the coherence of the whole thing with simple but imposing lines immediately contributed to its patrimonial value.
Cultural centres
Boghossian Foundation - Villa Empain
The Bois de la Cambre
The Bois de la Cambre, one of the largest parks in the Brussels-Capital Region, owes its name to La Cambre Abbey. It's laid out in an English style and resembles a forest, with walks, pony rides, jogging and playgrounds.
Nestled in the heart of the Bois de la Cambre, Chalet Robinson welcomes you in its restaurant and offers boats and pedalos or a game of pétanque. Located on Robinson Island, the origin of the name is unknown but, according to legend, a group of walkers who were lost in the Bois de la Cambre saw a captain appear on the water in his boat, and he took them to this green island. The Le Flore bar offers tapas made with fresh seasonal produce, while the Woodpecker is ideal for a snack. The nearby Villa Lorraine, Villa in the Sky and Villa Emily are fine, gourmet restaurants. Looking to go out in a club? Head to Les Jeux d'Hiver, one of the most famous in Brussels.
Just a short distance away is the Villa Empain, an Art Deco jewel which today houses the Centre for Art and Dialogue between Eastern and Western Cultures. DROHME Park leisure park at the former Boitsfort hippodrome lies on the southernmost edge of the Bois de la Cambre.
The Bois de la Cambre
Le Chalet Robinson
Nestled in the heart of the Bois de la Cambre, Chalet Robinson is a true haven, offering a peaceful escape in nature amidst the city.
Accessible only by boat, this unique venue offers an experience where charm, elegance, and nature blend seamlessly.
If Chalet's refined brasserie cuisine is appreciated by connoisseurs, you also have the opportunity to take control of the venue for exceptional events!
Whether it's a fairy-tale wedding, a memorable corporate reception, or any other special celebration, Chalet Robinson offers an enchanting and intimate setting, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. With its stunning spaces, views of the lake, and green gardens, every event organized at Chalet Robinson promises to be magical.
Le Chalet Robinson
