Attraction
Grand-Place
Brussels' central market square, rebuilt after the 1695 bombardment, framed by the Gothic Town Hall and ornate guildhalls and listed by UNESCO in 1998.
Horta Museum
Victor Horta's own house and studio, built between 1898 and 1901 and listed by UNESCO in 2000, a key work of Belgian Art Nouveau.
At a glance
- Type
- Art Nouveau house museum
- Area
- Saint-Gilles, Brussels, Belgium
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- hortamuseum.be
Good to know
- Online tickets
- Free entry first Sunday of the month
- Art Nouveau library
- Temporary exhibitions
Why we recommend it
The Horta Museum occupies the house and studio that the architect Victor Horta built for himself in Saint-Gilles between 1898 and 1901. Horta is regarded as the father of Belgian Art Nouveau, and this pair of buildings shows his ideas at their most personal and complete. In 2000 UNESCO added the house to the World Heritage List as one of the Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta in Brussels.
The interior is the reason to come. Horta treated the building as a single work of art, and the rooms are organised around a central staircase. Its iron banisters curve upwards towards an arching stained-glass skylight that floods the house with light, and the walls around the stairs carry one of the largest examples of sgraffito decoration in Europe. Look for the way the materials follow the same flowing lines, and for the leaded glass in the front door panels. The museum also holds the architect's archives, runs a reference library on Art Nouveau and stages temporary exhibitions.
The house suits anyone interested in architecture and design, and it is compact enough to visit in about an hour. Tickets can be bought online through the museum's ticket office, and booking ahead is the best way to avoid disappointment, especially at weekends. Children may find it less engaging than a large museum, though older ones often enjoy spotting the details. Access for visitors with reduced mobility is limited by the historic layout; contact the museum in advance if you need assistance.
Brussels Museums lists opening hours of 14:00 to 17:30 from Tuesday to Friday and 11:00 to 17:30 at weekends, with the museum closed on Mondays. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month, which makes those days particularly busy. The Art Nouveau Pass and museum pass are accepted.
The museum is on Rue Américaine, in the residential streets of Saint-Gilles south of the centre. Several tram and bus lines serve the area. Combine your visit with a walk through Saint-Gilles and Ixelles to see more Art Nouveau façades, and finish at one of the cafés around the Parvis de Saint-Gilles or the Place du Châtelain.
Horta Museum FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Brussels Museums lists Tuesday to Friday 14:00 to 17:30 and weekends 11:00 to 17:30. It is closed on Mondays.
Do I need to book?
Booking online through the museum's ticket office is recommended, especially at weekends.
Is it a UNESCO site?
Yes. It was listed in 2000 as one of the Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta.
When was the house built?
Between 1898 and 1901, as Horta's own home and studio.
Is there free entry?
Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.
How long should I allow?
About an hour.
Is it suitable for wheelchair users?
Access is limited by the historic layout, so contact the museum before visiting if you need assistance.
How do I get there?
It is in Saint-Gilles, south of the centre, served by several tram and bus lines.