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art nouveau

schaarbeek / schaerbeek brussel / bruxelles extensions

10 km | 2 hours

summary of the tour – theme

This circuit will allow discovering one of the most beautiful towns of the Brussels-Capital Region that is however a bit unknown by people. It is mainly at the start of the second half of the 19th century that it was significantly developed and turned into a true urban community. New avenues were developed and new buildings, public and private, were built. At present, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek remains one of the most important towns in Brussels, with a population of over 100,000 inhabitants. We will discover a few Art Nouveau buildings and a few more that were built at the turn of the 19th century. The journey will continue into the squares quarter that, planned back in 1875, is becoming more attractive with a few magnificent Art Nouveau constructions.

Brussels is considered as the Art Nouveau capital at the European level, because it is actually in this city that, in 1893, this architectural and decorative style was born. Victor Horta started it, in an organic in-spiration, and Paul Hankar, translated it into a more geometric language. This architecture will promote the use of metal structure favouring a better penetration of light in the core of the buildings, in places where formerly it was missing.

End of the trip to Kunst-Wet / Arts-Loi: the guide will take the group back to the departure point through an itinerary of its choice.

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1. Ancien Hôtel Cohn-Donnay, 316 Koningsstraat / Rue Royale, Sint-Joost-Ten-Node / Saint-Josse-ten-Noode

This old townhouse is now converted into a tavern-restaurant, 'De Ultieme Hallucinatie'. It was built in 1841. In 1904, the architect Paul Hamesse partially changed the neo-classical façade and the interior into an Art Nouveau style.

2. City hall of Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek, Colignonplein / Place Colignon, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek

This prestigious building is the work of the architect Jules-Jacques Van Ysendijck and was the beginning of a whole district's construction. It was built between 1884 and 1887 in a Flemish New Renaissance style. Badly damaged in arson in 1911, it was identically re-built and enlarged in 1912 by the architect's son, Maurice Van Ysendijck. A 65 metre high belfry, symbol signifying the town's importance, elevates its impressive façade.

3. Houses of Henri Jacobs, Maarschalk Fochlaan / Av. Maréchal Foch 7, 9 and 11, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek

Built between 1899 and the beginning of the 20th century, these Art Nouveau houses are the works of Henri Jacobs, an architect from Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek specialized in the construction of social housing and especially non-denominational schools as well. N°9, remarkable with its very big Privat Livemont graffiti, was the architect's home.

4. Autrique-huis / Maison Autrique, Haachtsesteenweg 266 / Ch. de Haecht, 266 Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek

This house is one of the first built by Victor Horta, one of the Art Nouveau masters. Built in 1893, it introduces Art Nouveau in different details. At present, owned by Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek township, it is under restoration by a specialized architect and was sketched by François Schuiten, a cartoonist from Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek, and Benoît Peeters, his scriptwriter. It is accessible to the public and shows lifestyles of the past.

5. Louis Bertrandlaan / Avenue Louis Bertrand, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek

This prestigious Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek avenue was planned in 1905. The "bourgeois" townhouses and the block of flats that border it were built between 1905 and 1914 and show the architectural styles that were appreciated back then: New Gothic, Art Nouveau, eclecticism … a unique, homogeneous and harmonious set!

route description

6. Josafat-schoolgroep / Groupe scolaire Josaphat, Josaphatstraat 259 / Rue Josaphat, 259, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek

This academic group gathers two schools of Henri Jacob's works, an Art Nouveau architect from Schaarbeek / Schaer-beek. The academic complex, which occupies a good part inside the small island, is remarkable with its architectural details. The metal structure of the covered playground and the Privat Livemont graffiti are worth the trip ...

7. Josaphat park

Built at the same time as Louis Bertrandlaan / Avenue Louis Bertrand (1905), this splendid landscape park shows the strength of will of King Leopold II to equip his capital with big and beautiful green spaces. It still has a set of remarkable sculptures dating from the end of the 19th century.

8. Weldoenersplein / Place des Bienfaiteurs

Built by the landscape architect Edmond Galoppin, this roundabout, which was built to make up the difference in level of 6 metres, is marked in its centre by a monument set up in memory of the town's benefactors. The sculptures that decorate the Art Nouveau fountain are the works of Godefroid Devreese. The square is bordered with buildings built during two eras, before 1914 and during the interwar period. Notice n°5 and 6, two Henri Jacobs buildings.

9. Quartier des squares et Saint-Cyr-huis / maison Saint-Cyr

The squares set of Marie-Louise, Ambiorix and Marguerite as well as Palmerstonlaan / Avenue Palmerston were built in 1875 according to architect and urban planner Gédéon Bordiau's plans. A series of high quality public spaces were developed in the community. The bordering buildings were for the most part built before World War I and show that period's tastes. Notice in particular, at n°11 of Ambiorixsquare / Square Ambiorix, Maison Saint-Cyr, built in the 1900's by the architect Gustave Strauven. Its very narrow façade (the plot is only 4 metres wide) stretches on 5 levels and presents decorative exuberance belonging to this Art Nouveau architect.

10. Hotel Van Eetvelde, Palmerstonlaan 4-6 / Avenue Palmerston, 4-6, Brussel / Bruxelles

In 1895, baron Van Eetvelde, a close collaborator of Leopold II, entrusted the construction of his own hotel with Victor Horta. The metal structure of this building's façade is visible, which is a total characteristic of Horta's Art Nouveau works. Different mosaic panels in organic shapes decorate the façade. Few years later, Horta had the responsibility to expand the building on the right and to build the corner building on the left. These constructions are far less bold.

contact details

For more information on this technical tour, please contact:

Pro Velo vzw / asblPro Velo is an association with an objective to promote bicycle use as a mode of

transportation and discovery. It suggests to authorities, schools and general public several services: research department, events organisation and bicycle education, guided tours and rental.

Pro Velo - Het Fietsershuis / La Maison des Cyclistes Londenstraat 15 / 15 rue de Londres

1050 Brussel / Bruxelles +32 (0)2/502.73.55info@provelo.orgwww.provelo.org