Page 66 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp
P. 66
64 BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA
Sadly, it fell into dis repair and
renovation took place in 1934.
One half is now a Belgian
restaurant, the other the Royal
Society of Engineers’ private HQ.
However, the pretty, original
inner court yard can still be seen.
7 Musée des
Instruments de
Musique
Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, 1000
BRU. Map 2 E4. Tel (02) 545 0130.
@ 27, 29, 38, 63, 65, 66, 71, 95
The Victor Horta-designed façade of the Palais des Beaux-Arts v 92, 93. q Gare Centrale, Parc.
5 Palais des 6 Hôtel Ravenstein Open 9:30am–5pm Tue–Fri,
Beaux-Arts 10am–5pm Sat & Sun. Closed 1 Jan,
Rue Ravenstein 3, 1000 BRU. 1 May, 1 & 11 Nov, 25 Dec. & 8 =
Rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 BRU. Map 2 E3. Map 2 E3. @ 27, 29, 38, 63, 65, 66, 71, 0 7 ∑ mim.be
Tel (02) 507 8200. @ 27, 29, 38, 63, 65, 95. v 92, 93. q Gare Centrale, Parc.
66, 71, 95. v 92, 93. q Gare Centrale, Open restaurant only. Once a department store, the
Parc. Open box office: 11am–7pm building known as Old England
Tue–Fri, 1–7pm Sat. Closed public Over the centuries, the Hôtel is a striking showpiece of Art
hols. 8 - 7 ∑ bozar.be Ravenstein has been the home Nouveau architecture located
of patrician families, soldiers by the Place Royale.
The Palais des BeauxArts owes and court officials, and, for the Architect Paul Saintenoy gave
its existence to Henri Le Boeuf, past 100 years, the Royal full rein to his imagina tion
a musicloving financier who Society of Engineers. The when he designed these shop
gave his name to the main building was designed at premises for the Old England
auditorium. In 1922 he com the end of the 15th company in 1899. The
missioned the architect Victor century for Adolphe façade is made entirely
Horta (see p86) to design a and Philip Cleves of glass and elaborate
cultural centre that would house Ravenstein; in wrought iron. There
concert halls and exhib ition 1515 it was is a domed gazebo
areas, be open to all visitors, and the birthplace of on the roof, and a
embrace the artistic fields of Anne of Cleves. turret to one side.
music, art, theatre, cinema, archi Consisting of two Surprisingly, it was
tecture and literature. The centre parts, joined by only in the 1990s
was the first of its kind in Europe. gardens and The façade of Old England that a listed building
The complex has a fine stables, it is the last policy was adopted in
reputation and has played remaining example of a Brussels, which has secured
a key role in the cultural life Burgundianstyle manor house. treasures such as this. The
of Brussels for more than 80 The Hôtel Ravenstein was building is now home to the
years. It is the focus for the city’s acquired by the town in 1896 Musée des Instruments de
music, hosting 250 classical and used to store artworks. Musique, known as the mim,
music concerts each year, and which moved from the Sablon.
is home to the Belgian National The collection of the Musée
Orchestra. The programme also des Instruments de Musique
includes about 50 concerts of began in the 19th century
rock, pop, jazz and world music. when the state bought 80
The complex also houses ancient and exotic instrum ents.
the CINEMATEK, set up in It was doubled in 1876 when
1962, with its fine archive and King Léopold II don ated a gift
exhibition of old cameras and of 97 Indian musical instru
lenses. It screens classic films. ments presented to him by a
maharajah. A museum display
E CINEMATEK ing all of these artifacts opened
Rue Baron Horta 9, 1000 BRU. Tel (02) in 1877, and by 1924 it boasted
551 1919. Open 5:30–10pm (or end 3,300 pieces and was recognized
of screening if later) Mon–Wed, 2:30– as a leader in its field.
10pm Thu, 5–10pm Fri & Sat, 2:30– Today, the collection contains
10pm Sun. & 7 (use Rue Ravenstein The secluded inner courtyard of the Hôtel more than 6,000 items and
entrance).∑ cinematek.be Ravenstein includes many fine examples of
064-065_EW_Brussels.indd 64 10/01/17 10:54 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm
