The densest Art Nouveau streets in Brussels, from the Brugmann junction in Saint-Gilles through Victor Horta's own house and Paul Hankar's Rue Defacqz to two of Horta's UNESCO-listed townhouses. Everything except the Horta Museum is seen from the pavement.
Best time: Tuesday-Friday from 14:00 or weekends from 11:00, when the Horta Museum is open (closed Mondays)
The route, stop by stop
- 1Hannon House
Jules Brunfaut's 1902 townhouse for Edouard Hannon, on the corner of Avenue de la Jonction and Avenue Brugmann; admire the corner facade. 10 min.
- 2Les Hiboux
The house called Les Hiboux ('The Owls') stands at the same junction on Avenue Brugmann; view from the pavement. 5 min.
- 3Horta Museum
Rue Americaine 25; book a timed slot online. 60-75 min inside.
- 4Hankar House
Paul Hankar built this house for himself in 1893 at Rue Defacqz 71. 5 min.
- 5Hotel Ciamberlani
Another Paul Hankar house a few doors along, built for Albert Ciamberlani. 5 min.
- 6Hotel Tassel
Rue Paul-Emile Janson 6: Horta's house for professor Emile Tassel (1892-1893), one of the first Art Nouveau buildings; UNESCO World Heritage since 2000. Exterior only. 10 min.
- 7Hotel Solvay
Avenue Louise 224: Horta's townhouse for industrialist Armand Solvay (1895-1903), also UNESCO-listed; finish on Avenue Louise for tram 8. 10 min.
More walks in Brussels
- Historic core: Grand-Place to the Sablon
- Marolles: view, flea market and old cafes
- Food-grazing walk: Midi Market to Flagey fries
- Ixelles ponds, La Cambre Abbey and the Bois
- European Quarter to the Cinquantenaire
- Old Brussels cafes crawl
- Comic-strip murals of the old centre
- Sonian Forest: Rouge-Cloitre priory and the Trois-Fontaines ruin
- North Brussels: Botanique to Schaerbeek town hall