Victor Horta in the center
From Art Nouveau to urban renewal
World-renowned as a pioneer of Art Nouveau, architect Victor Horta reveals a lesser-known but equally fascinating side of himself in the center of Brussels. In a rapidly changing capital city, he sought new forms for a modern city. His strength lies in the combination of functionality, constructive innovation, light, and refined detailing, always adapted to scale and context. This tour explores the center of Brussels through Horta's work and ideas, in a chronological walk through his oeuvre.
Fault lines in the city
The neighborhood around the current central station was once a densely built-up and lively working-class district. In the first half of the 20th century, radical demolition work took place here to make way for the Central Station and the rail link between the North and South stations. This urban renewal left deep scars on the urban fabric. It was in this context that Horta took a different path in the city center than his exuberant Art Nouveau architecture. He evolved towards a stricter, more rational design language that responded to large-scale infrastructure and new urban ambitions.
During the walk, we will discover, among other things, the former Waucquez department store, now the Belgian Comic Strip Center, a key work in which Horta masterfully combines light, structure, and circulation. The façade of the Wolfers jewelry store also testifies to his ability to reconcile elegance and modernity even within limited urban frameworks. The tour also focuses on other striking interwar achievements, placing Horta's work within a broader architectural evolution. This unfolds a layered story of an architect and a city in transformation.
Good to know
This city walk takes place in an urban environment where obstacles such as cobblestones, narrow sidewalks, and level differences cannot always be avoided. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
This walk is a linear walk with a different end point. Don't want to walk back to the starting point? No problem: there is always a public transport stop nearby. At the start, you can agree on the end point with the guide.
Reservation and guide fee. We are exempt from VAT.
