Brussels Art Nouveau

Brussels is the epicentre of Belgian art nouveau and, what is more, the capital of a country that is happy to indulge in grand architectural gestures. This route takes you in one day along five remarkable stops, each revealing its own time layer of city history, from the private home of Victor Horta to the futuristic Atomium of the 1958 Expo. Between those extremes lies the Cinquantenaire Park, a neoclassical-eclectic highlight laid out by Leopold II, and the oldest covered shopping arcade in Europe.

Begin your day in Saint-Gilles at the Horta Museum, the former home and studio of the master of art nouveau. Be aware of limited accessibility due to the historic character and contact the museum in advance to prepare your visit. Then head to the Art and History Museum in the Cinquantenaire Park, one of the largest art museums in Belgium with collections from prehistory to art deco. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible via lifts and wide corridors. Combine this visit with a relaxing walk through the adjacent Cinquantenaire Park, with its monumental triumphal arch and landscaped gardens on paved paths.

After lunch you head to the centre for the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, the first covered shopping arcade in Europe, built in 1847 in a refined Italian Renaissance style. The galleries are completely flat and so wheelchair friendly, and lend themselves perfectly to a lunch break in one of the elegant cafes or chocolatiers. Round off the day with a visit to the Atomium on the Heysel, the iconic monument from 1958. The nine spheres are reachable by lift and offer a spectacular view over Brussels.

Practical tips: use the underground car parks around Central Station, the Cinquantenaire Park and the Heysel, all with disabled parking spaces. The Brussels metro network is largely accessible via lifts (use the STIB app for current information). Plan enough travel time between the stops, as the distances are considerable. Avoid rush hour and be aware of some cobblestone sections in the historic city centre around the Saint-Hubert Galleries.