Discover Brussels with Arkadia's network of professional guides, historians, art historians and architects! We offer a series of original guided tours for groups, focused on specific themes or with a particular approach.

These tours are available in French, Dutch, German, English, Italian, Spanish, Russian or Hungarian. One guide is provided for each group of 15, 20 or 25 people, depending on the capacity of the place.

 

In July 2016, the BELvue museum completely renewed its permanent exhibition. You are invited to discover Belgium and its history through seven themes: democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migrations, languages and Europe. A modern presentation helps young visitors to gain a better...
Art Nouveau creations are characterized by the use of metal, ornaments inspired by vegetation, and the fluidity of volumes. They also express the aspiration to integrate decorative arts into architectural designs. Art Nouveau developed at the turn between two centuries and strove in Brussels like...
Cette promenade dans Molenbeek vous fera découvrir une des premières églises Art Deco en béton, des anciennes brasseries ou usines transformées en lieux culturels (MIMA, Imal, Charleroi danse, Recyclart, La Fonderie) ou l'ancienne boulangerie de la maison du peuple en magasin design. C'est aussi...
La création du Parc de Bruxelles est liée à celle de la Place Royale, édifiée à partir de 1775 sur les ruines du château des Ducs de Brabant. Une promenade historique où nous évoquerons aussi les origines de la fête, avec le kiosque, les magnifiques galeries du Waux-Hall récemment restaurées, le...
Le Territoire du Canal offre un potentiel déterminant face aux défis de développement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Cette visite vous permettra de comprendre l'évolution de cette zone qui connut un développement économique fulgurant au 19e siècle et qui abrite aujourd’hui une population jeune...
Being a prime art and commercial area, the Sablon area proudly discloses its picturesque lanes, its magnificent church and its prosperous and busy square. Gradually shaped along centuries, from the middle-ages till modern times, this gem is undoubtedly one of the most charming areas of the city,...
From Parc to Ceria subway stations, we will take you through the various works of art commissioned by the Brussels’s subway agency. These unusual and ingenious works of art bring a unique sense of life to each subway station.
The district around the Ixelles ponds, where the rich middle classes had many splendid townhouses built, offers a beautiful overview of the different styles of Brussels architecture, including many magnificent examples of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Follow your guide through this district...
Many luxury townhouses were built by the rich bourgeoisie in the Ixelles ponds area. The neighborhood thus presents a great sample of Brussels architectural variety, featuring Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles in particular. Stroll along our guides while discovering enchanting façades, all being...
We will start our journey back in time at nightfall, and experience the true soul of Art Nouveau and Art Deco cafés and places of entertainment, including “Le Falstaff”, “L'Archiduc” and “Le Cirio”. Learn about the history of entertainment, including during the Belle Epoque and the Roaring Twenties...
Art nouveau offers a wide range of variations, each one more original than others. Some buildings are geometrical, others organic, all of them showing amazing distinctive features which reflect the feelings of architects or commissioners. Arkadia takes you in Horta's old district to reveal Art...
Avenue Molière is certainly one of the most beautiful avenues in Brussels : a green setting where audacity and conformism, excess and sobriety mix in an astonishing and harmonious mix of styles. The visitor will stroll through time, discovering this unique fresco of embassies, private mansions,...
Imagine going back in time, a time in the past when Brussels didn't exist, a time where a small river flowed in the middle of swampy islands... This guided tour will conjure the memory of a city of Brussels that no longer exists while offering hypotheses as to how Brussels came into being.
Arkadia offers you the chance to (re)discover the history of Brussels through its hidden gems and buildings. This guided tour out of the ordinary will take you to the heart of the city, from the Royal Square to the “down town” area.
As a multicultural city located on the borders of the Germanic and Latin worlds, there was no better place than Brussels to unite nations around the European project ! With the successive enlargements of the European Union and the arrival of new civil servants, Brussels, as European headquarters,...
Nous vous proposons un parcours néoclassique dans le centre-ville. Le réamenagement de l'espace urbain à la fin du 18ème siècle crée une rupture avec la ville médiévale organique en s'appuyant sur des critères spécifiques : ordre et symétrie, rationalisation de l'espace, mobilité, blancheur. Le...
Nous vous proposons un parcours de la Place Royale à l'église du Béguinage. Nous partirons ensemble à la découverte de l’expression bruxelloise de ce captivant XVIIIe siècle et de ses prémisses, entre affirmation de la puissance de l'Église catholique et essor des monarchies absolues.
A l’Est de la commune, côtoyant la cité universitaire de Louvain-en-Woluwe, s’étend la cité-jardin du Kapelleveld. Elle fut conçue dans un esprit moderniste par l’urbaniste Louis Van der Swaelmen, auteur des cités-jardins du Logis et du Floréal à Watermael-Boitsfort, et construite de 1923 à 1926...
La collection Vanhaerents vous ouvre ses portes avec sa nouvelle exposition VIEWING DEPOT EX#02 qui présente des œuvres emblématiques d'artistes célèbres tels que Rudolf Stingel, Lorna Simpson, Bruce Nauman et Jason Rhoades. La présentation confronte différentes œuvres et, ce faisant, révèle des...
Built between the second half of the 11th and the 12th centuries on Coudenberg hill, the Palace of Brussels was then rebuilt, enlarged and embellished as the prestige of the Dukes of Brabant grew. They were followed by the Dukes of Burgundy, the Emperor Charles V and finally the Archduke Albert and...
Presque toute l'histoire de l'architecture bruxelloise dans un mouchoir de poche ! Ce parcours surprenant vous emmènera de la place des Martyrs (anciennement place Saint Michel) construite en 1774, 1ere réalisation urbanistique bruxelloise d'envergure de style néo-classique, au centre de la BD,...
De la place Poelaerts, Mont de la Justice s'ouvre un panorama grandiose sur Bruxelles. En cheminant vers le Mont des Arts, notre guide vous fera découvrir un pan de l'histoire de Bruxelles mais aussi du développement urbanistique du centre ville qui fut métamorphosé par la construction du Palais de...
This fascinating circular walking tour will take you from the hilltop Royal district down to the ancient streets and markets of the city centre in the valley below. On the way we will pass the remains of the city walls, in search of the soul of the mediaeval city.
Quarante ans après sa disparition, Romy Schneider (23 septembre 1938 – 29 mai 1982) fascine toujours. Sa carrière débute à 15 ans en Autriche avec Sissi, qui lui amène succès et reconnaissance internationale. Mais lorsqu'elle s'installe en France, elle deviendra vite une icône du cinéma français...
Les visites de groupe de l'exposition ne sont possible que les samedis suivants : 14/01, 28/01, 04/2, 18/02, 04/03, 18/03, 01/04, 22/04, 6/05, 27/05, 10/06 et 24/06 à 10h, 11h, 14h, 15h et 16h. Chaque groupe doit être composé de 15 personnes maximum. Il peut y avoir 2 groupes en parallèle...
Dans cette ancienne gare de fret, Neutelings Riedijk Architects a conçu une nouvelle ville où il ne pleuvra jamais. L’impressionnante structure en acier Art nouveau qui couvre l’ensemble a été rénovée par Jan De Moffarts et le Bureau Bouwtechniek. Comme mentionné sur leur site, "La Gare Maritime...
The Van Eetvelde Hotel was built in 1895 by Victor Horta for Edmond Van Eetvelde, Secretary General for the Congo, who wanted to show his social success with a house that could accommodate receptions. Distinctive of the Horta style, the house has a superb rotunda glass roof and many original...
The House of European History, created in 2017, is located in the Leopold Park, in the heart of the European district of Brussels. The House of European History aims to become the leading museum about transnational phenomena which have shaped our continent. By interpreting history from a European...
The INR or « the sound factory » is a marvellous example where aesthetics join technical achievements to meet the requirements of radio work. Between Art Deco and modernism, the shape of the building reminds us of the fascination that the 1930s had for the architecture of machines and particularly...
If there is a single place in Brussels which enables you to wander and discover the greatest Belgian artists of the 19th and 20th, it is indeed the Ixelles cemetery. Here, the architects Victor Horta and Adrien Blomme rest in peace next to writers or musicians such as Charles de Coster or Eugène...
Le Movy, l’enseigne d’origine du cinéma, était l’une des dizaines de « salles des faubourgs » ou cinéma de quartier de Bruxelles.
Nous vous proposons de découvrir le site emblématique de l’ancien Hippodrome d’Uccle-Boitsfort à travers une balade guidée qui retracera l’histoire du site. Depuis son aménagement en 1875 par l’architecte Edouard Keilig à l’époque de l’engouement pour les courses hippiques, en passant par la...
Construit par Victor Bourgeois et Maurice Gridaine en 1937, le Variétés est initialement conçu pour être à la fois une salle de concerts, un théâtre, un music-hall et un cinéma, affectation exclusive des lieux à partir de 1954. Il reste aujourd’hui un cinéma d’exception dans l’histoire des salles...
Nous vous proposons un parcours sur le patrimoine funeraire néoclassique. Le cimetière d’Ixelles, créé en 1877, nous offre de très beaux exemples de l’architecture néoclassique parmi les cimetières de la Région Bruxelloise. Nombreux monuments funéraires font références à l’architecture de la Rome...
Le quartier du Sablon/Régence est célèbre pour ses antiquaires. Depuis quelques années, il compte de plus en plus de galeries d’art contemporain que nous découvrirons au cours de cette visite. Une autre manière d’aborder ce quartier bien connu des Bruxellois.
Bruxelles comptera jusqu'à 50 passages couverts dans les années 1850 et exportera le modèle vers plusieurs autres villes de Belgique. Inaugurées en 1847, les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert sont parmi les plus anciennes d'Europe. Ces passages abritaient des intempéries une clientèle aisée et leurs...
Discover urban art in Brussels in company of our guide! Either hidden or apparent, of modest or enormous size, the multifaceted aspect of Street Art will amaze you. You will explore the MIMA, a young museum of international stature dedicated to accessible and thriving contemporary creation. The...
Local Heroes associe, à la manière du gymnase grec antique, les exercices du corps et ceux de l'esprit. Pour cette exposition performative, le MIMA a fait appel à 7 artistes de la scène artistique bruxelloise pour créer des oeuvres spécialement pour cette exposition : Rocio Alvarez, Dave Decat,...
Plongez-vous dans une autre époque en découvrant la maison-atelier de l'architecte Horta. Cet endroit vous émerveillera et vous permettra de mieux comprendre l'art Nouveau et l'incroyable personnalité de ce grand architecte bruxellois.
Facing the Sablon church, Petit Sablon square stands as one of the little gems of Brussels center: a neo-renaissance garden, adorned by a collection of sculptures made by the most talented Belgian artists of the 19th century. Whereas this garden is quite visible, Egmont park has always made itself...
The Sablon and Marolles are areas of Brussels that can truly be considered the heart of the city. On this rally we'll take you on a historical and gourmet journey! Kick off your interactive rally for this discovery tour of the Sablon area, where history, antique dealers and sweet treats stand side...
Considered one of the major constructions of Victor Horta, the Art Nouveau master, the Solvay house (1894) has fortunately kept its original furniture, lightings, upholstery and pieces of art. Listed by the UNESCO, this World Heritage construction is a unique gem, for which the meaning of “total...
The Solvay Library, the magnificent setting of the former Institute of Sociology, was created under the impulse of Ernest Solvay and built by the architects Constant Bosmans and Henri Vandeveld. Inaugurated in 1902, the Solvay Institute of Sociology is one of the most prestigious remains of the...
At the bend of a street, on a wall or a facade, urban artworks are popping up everywhere! But why? For who? And who is a the origin? This guided walk will try to answer those questions and will allow you to better know and understand this art which never stops changing and is gaining more and more...
Round the corner of a street, on a wall or on a façade, urban art creations are blooming about everywhere. But why? By whom? How? This guided tour will attempt to answer these questions and will allow young people to improve their knowledge and understanding of this modern art, which keeps evolving...
Quand Bruegel rencontre le street art...ou ne serait-ce pas l'inverse ? Pour célébrer les 450 ans de la mort de Bruegel, Bruxelles parsème le cœur de la ville de fresques street art inspirées de l’univers de ce célèbre artiste. On doit ces fresques au collectif Farm Prod, et plusieurs autres...
Imagine the city hall tower as an eyewitness to the historical meanderings of the European capital! Discover the secrets of the Grand Place, embark in teams on the historical journey of the world's nicest square! But don't forget to take a break - we have planned several stops during the rally for...
This mysterious and unusual tour will take you to hidden places of the capital by discovering several underground places! Will you get lost in the former palace of Charles V ? Do you know the "Grand-Serment Crossbowmen Guild"? The visit will end with a crossbow shooting demonstration: thrills...
A kindergarten, a social housing estate or an artist's studio... so many buildings with different functions to which Art Nouveau architects lent their talent! In the heart of one of the oldest districts of Brussels, the visitor will discover buildings of all kinds, less known than the prestigious...
Built in 1902-1905 for the lawyer and politician Max Hallet by the leader of Art Nouveau - the architect Victor Horta - the Hotel Max Hallet (1904) opens its doors on a magical universe mixing curves and counter-curves, precious materials and polychrome glass. The house is now inhabited and has...
The English and Dutch tours are organised by our colleagues of Korei. Please consult their homepage for reservations: https://korei.be/ . Overlooking the Poelart square, the Palais de Justice (Law Court) is a colossus of fascinating dimensions. Arkadia offers a discovery tour of this giant through...
The gigantic Palace of Justice literally towers over the Place Poelaert. In this walking tour, you will explore the interior of this intriguing colossus and learn not only about its historical context, but also about the Belgian justice system, all in an easy-to-understand way. The visit includes...
This walk full of contrasts will take you from the labyrinths of the Palais de Justice to the disorderly and cheeky streets of the Marolles, from the Belgian judicial activity to the rebellious and zwanzeur spirit of a typically Brusseleir district!
Banksy est sans aucun doute le street artiste le plus célèbre et le plus controversé du moment ! The World of Banksy est une exposition qui rassemble le plus grand nombre d’œuvres murales grandeur nature du street artiste de Bristol. Ces œuvres reconstituées in situ par un collectif d'artistes...
The city of Brussels abounds in art galeries. We will make several stops and each and every one of them will tackle a different form of expression. This visit is adaptable to different districts (Louise, Faider, Dansaert, Sablon).
The House of European History, created in 2017, is located in the Parc Léopold in the heart of the European district of Brussels. The exhibition "When Walls talk" is built upon the concept of illustrated posters, which reflect an increasingly commercial world, and then a world in which political...