Horta Museum

The Horta Museum occupies the former home and studio of the architect Victor Horta at Rue Américaine 25 in Saint-Gilles, Brussels. Built between 1898 and 1901, the house is part of the UNESCO-listed major town houses of Victor Horta and is regarded as a masterpiece of Art Nouveau. Visitors enter a compact, light-filled interior designed down to the smallest detail: curving metal and wood, mosaic floors, stained glass and custom furniture all follow a single flowing logic. The most celebrated space is the stair hall, where a skylight, mirrors and a sweeping banister draw light through the whole building. The ground floor housed Horta's studio and reception rooms, while the upper floors hold the family living spaces and a dining room with original fittings. The house shows how an architect can make everyday domestic life into a total work of art, with light, ventilation and heating integrated into the design. Because the rooms are small, entry is timed and numbers are limited, so visits take about an hour. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, usually from around 14:00 to 17:30, and closed on Mondays, with hours changing by season. Admission is about €12, with reduced rates for youth. Weekday afternoons are generally quieter, and visitors should buy tickets in advance on the official website. The house is a five-minute walk from the stops at Janson or Albert on trams 92, 3 and 4. The surrounding Saint-Gilles area has other Art Nouveau buildings, and a stroll along nearby streets shows more of the style.