Overview

Occupying the centre of the vast neoclassical architectural composition that closes off the north side of the Royal Park, the Palais de la Nation houses the Federal Parliament. The U-shaped building was built between 1778 and 1783 to plans by architect Barnabé Guimard, who had already designed the Place Royale. The main wing is crowned by a pediment whose bas-relief, sculpted by Gilles-Lambert Godecharle, depicts "Justice punishing Vices and rewarding Virtues". In the stuccoed hall, paved with white marble, two pairs of Doric columns indicate the vestibules leading to the monumental staircases. One, with its red carpet, leads to the Senate. The other, with its green carpet, leads to the House of representatives, whose hemicycle hall, destroyed by fire in 1883, was rebuilt in the neoclassical style by architect Henri Beyaert. The surprise, however, is that part of the backstage area was completely refurbished at a later date in the Streamline Moderne style, one of the expressions of Art Deco. These include parlours, cloakrooms and telephone booths that have preserved their decor, including engraved glass, lighting and furniture from the same period. This is an unusual route, to say the least, but one that will not prevent visitors from discovering both the neoclassical hemicycle of the House of representatives and the Second Empire hemicycle of the Senate. Photographs are permitted, but without a flash.

Practical information

Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00

Federal parliament, rue de Louvain 7, 1000 Brussels

Advance booking required.

Non accessible

Bookings

Fully booked.

Address
Federal parliament, rue de Louvain 7, 1000 Brussels