Horta Museum and Town Houses

The Horta Museum is housed in Victor Horta's private home and studio (1861-1947). The two buildings at 23-25 rue Américaine in Saint-Gilles, Brussels, were built between 1898 and 1901 and are examples of Art Nouveau at its peak. The mosaics, stained glass, and wall decorations have been mostly preserved, making a cohesive and exquisite ensemble down to the last detail.

Victor Horta was the most prominent architect and designer of the Art Nouveau style of the early twentieth century. Several of his magnificent structures still stand in Brussels, and they are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin at the Horta Museum, which is housed in his former home and workshop, which have been conserved in their original state, complete with stained glass, mosaics, woodwork, and decorations, as he created them.

Wrought iron beams, glazed tiles, mirrors, windows, marble, and wood blend magnificently in the Horta Museum's décor and structure. You can see the subtle things Horta thought of to make the whole structure operate as a whole while exploring the music room, bedroom, dining room, or guest room. All of the rooms are connected by a central stairway that leads to a glass roof that floods the house with an almost mystical light.

Location: 23-25 rue Américaine, Saint-Gilles, Brussels
Official site: www.hortamuseum.be/en

Entrance fee: free

Timing: 2pm - 5:30pm Tuesday - Friday, 11am - 5:30pm Saturday & Sunday

Highlights: Art Nouveau building

Best time to visit: round-year