City of Brussels Town Hall
Of all of the town halls in the country, the City of Brussels town hall is undoubtedly one of the most majestic! This Gothic building, built in the 15th century, is enhanced by its setting on the Grand-Place, often described as the most beautiful square in the world... Admire the accuracy of its proportions, the countless sculptures that adorn its facades and the incomparable brilliance of its tower, whose spire supports the archangel Saint Michael, the city's protector. This City of Brussels laid the first stone of the sumptuous building back in 1401. In 1695, during the bombardment of the city by Louis XIV's troops, the town hall was burned down, but the walls and the tower remained standing. Its reception rooms and aldermen's chambers contain beautiful Brussels tapestries from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, sumptuous Gothic woodwork, coats of arms of the old guilds and paintings from the City of Brussels museum's collections.
City of Brussels Town Hall
Museum of the City of Brussels
Two majestic buildings that stand opposite each other on Brussels' Grand Place have a long-standing rivalry: on one side you have Brussels' City Hall, and on the other the Broodhuis (Bread House), a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Brussels City Museum. The rivalry between these two buildings is no coincidence. In the 15th century, the Duke of Brabant replaced the 13th century wooden bread market building with a prestigious building that would be a symbol of his power and face off against the imposing building on the other side of the Grand Place that symbolised the city's independence. The building owes its French name of Maison du Roi (King's House) to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who once ruled over a large part of the globe and once owned the Bread House. After being destroyed in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century by city architect Victor Jamaer.
But it's not all about the Broodhuis' history and facade. Inside the Brussels City Museum gives a comprehensive overview of Brussels' history, with particular attention given to the arts, crafts,urbanism and architecture . The original Manneken Pis is also housed here for security reasons, but as for his wardrobe, which is a thousand times larger than even the most passionate fashionista's, you can marvel at that in its dedicated museum on Rue du Chêne - Eikstraat.
Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.
Museum of the City of Brussels
Manneken-Pis
This little bronze statue, produced in the 17th century by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder, is the current embodiment of the rebellious spirit of Brussels. Also known as 'Petit Julien', due to confusion with another fountain, het Julianekensborre, it was, since the Middle Ages, one of the many fountains supplying the city with water. From being a public fountain, it now has legendary status. In addition to its purely material aspect, Manneken-Pis gradually took on the symbolic roles of protector of the city and spokesman for the people of Brussels, embodying them with an often mischievous and irreverent tone.
It has become customary to dress the little man up for special occasions and festivities. The proud owner of countless costumes and decorations, his wardrobe includes some 1,000 pieces, which can be admired at the GardeRobe MannekenPis, a museum opened in 2017. The oldest was donated by the Elector of Bavaria in 1698. Unfortunately, Manneken-Pis has suffered from numerous acts of vandalism. He was first removed by the English in 1745. Two years later, he was stolen by the French. Louis XV was informed of this and offered him a rich suit of gold brocade as reparation for this outrage and awarded him the Cross of Saint Louis. In 1817, the statuette, stolen this time by a pardoned French convict, was found broken. The fragments were used to make the statuette that now adorns the ancient fountain.
Manneken-Pis
GardeRobe MannekenPis
The incredible Manneken-Pis dressing room awaits you at 19 Rue du Chêne, a stone's throw away from the famous fountain.
A representative selection of more than one hundred costumes is presented according to seven themes: geography, folklore, charity and citizens’ associations, trades, celebrities and characters, sports and designers. They show the richness of this fabulous and uncommon collection, which today includes nearly 1,000 items! The sculpture’s clothing – which is a tradition dating back to the 17th century! – is still part of the folklore and historical heritage of the city of Brussels.
Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.
GardeRobe MannekenPis
KBR museum
Six centuries ago, Brussels belonged to the rich and powerful Dukes of Burgundy. Skilled politicians and cultured patrons, they established a stirring treasure, a unique and fascinating collection of manuscripts: the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy.
These masterpieces, which have survived the ravages of time and history, have been looked aft er by KBR and can now be admired at the KBR museum. Explore Europe’s medieval cultural past and then admire the magnificent illuminated manuscripts from the ducal library.
Although manuscripts form the heart of the museum, the KBR museum is much more than just looking at books. There is also a lot to experience!
KBR museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium assemble six different museums: the Oldmasters Museum, Modern Museum, Meunier Museum, Wiertz Museum, Magritte Museum and the Fin-de-Siècle Museum.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Musée Magritte Museum
CLOSED UNTIL 31 MARCH
The Musée Magritte Museum, located in the heart of Brussels, brings together the world's largest collection of the renowned surrealist artist René Magritte: 230 works and archives are displayed. The multidisciplinary space houses paintings, gouaches, drawings, sculptures and painted objects, as well as advertising posters, musical scores, photographs and films. The Museum also has the most important collection from the artist’s "vache" period.
The selection of works exhibited in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is constantly expanding with a changing selection of external loans. With the support of Belgian and foreign museums as well as private collectors, works are being made available that have previously never been exhibited. The visitor can thus discover many treasures that are still in private possession.
The Musée Magritte Museum has already received 8 nominations and prizes. Every year more than 300,000 visitors come here for all over the world to discover the life and the works of René Magritte.
Musée Magritte Museum
MIM - Musical Instruments Museum (MRAH)
As soon as it opened at the end of the 19th century, the luxurious Old England department store earned an excellent reputation for its highly distinctive building. The entrance to the building is a jewel of the Art Nouveau style, while the rest is in perfect harmony with the neoclassical ensemble on the Place Royale, and just around the corner from the Grand-Place and Central Station, no less!
With a wealth of some 9.000 instruments, some 1.200 of which are on permanent exhibit, the museum's reputation is mainly built on its extraordinary collections.
Once inside, you'll embark on a true tour of the musical world. After your visit, the instruments and their history will no longer hold any secrets: from the viola da gamba from the Court of Brussels to the 20th century theremin, and even including the African kora!
The mim is nothing other than a place to experience music. A visitor's guidance system allows you to explore the thematic tours to the tune of the melodious sound of the instruments presented.
A program packed with concerts, demonstrations and workshops for the young and the not so young makes the mim experience even better.
The mim has its own concert hall, specialized library, museum shop, workshop for restauration and conservation of musical instruments and is crowned by a restaurant with panoramic view over Brussels.
MIM - Musical Instruments Museum (MRAH)
Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar
It’s impossible to talk about culture in Belgium without mentioning the Centre for Fine Arts located in Brussels. Whether it comes to exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, movies or projects concerning literature and architecture, BOZAR will always put originality and innovation first. They prove to keep a finger on the pulse with their varied and sophisticated programme. Besides emphasizing the importance of creation, quality and a rich artistic offering, BOZAR is especially concerned about the total experience of the visitors.
Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar
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
Atomium
Halfway between sculpture and architecture, the Atomium was designed and built for the Brussels World's Fair (1958), for which it was the flagship building and emblem. Representing an iron unit cell (9 iron atoms) magnified 165 billion times, the monument with its unique silhouette has, over time, grown to become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium.
On the inside the Atomium offers, not just the most beautiful view of Brussels, but also an entirely astounding and surreal ride through its interior spaces and volumes which alone makes a visit worth it.
The Atomium ticket automatically includes the entrance to the Design Museum Brussels (150m away).
Atomium
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Koekelbeg
The Koekelberg Basilica ranks fifth among the world's largest churches, after the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix in Yamoussokro on the Ivory Coast, St Peter's in Rome, St Paul's in London and Santa Maria Dei Fiori in Florence.
Today, the church is in the first place a place of prayer for peace. The church is still used for celebrations of the parish or for big national celebrations. But the basilica is more than that. The basilica has also an important cultural function. It’s a magnificent Art Deco monument, there are two museums, there are yearly different expositions and you can enjoy a wonderful view over Brussels!
We're looking forward to welcoming you soon in this fantastic Art Deco Monument!
Warning : in winter (late October to late March) the basilica closes at 5 pm.
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Koekelbeg
Museum Horta
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.
Museum Horta
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