This is a series of caches: Just a few minutes from the heart of the European district, you will discover a series of parks and squares, home to numerous architectural treasures in styles such as neo-Gothic, neo-Renaissance, and Art Nouveau, all waiting to be discovered.
Water plays a central role in this collection of parks, almost integrated into each one, recreating the historical course of the Maelbeek river.
The Maelbeek stream originates from the south of Brussels, and flowed openly through meadows, passing through 58 ponds. At the time, the European quarter was far from resembling the neighbourhood we know today: the landscape was more like that of a countryside, with the Maelbeek running through this valley, with small farms, mills, and breweries along its banks.
When urbanization started, however, the stream caused floods and posed public health risks: while mostly underground today, the Maelbeek is not forgotten, and it even lends its name to the nearby metro station.
You are entering Square Ambiorix, with its French-style terraces, flowerbeds, fountains and sculptures. It is named after the Gallic chief who defeated the Romans in 54 BC - several streets in this neighbourhood have Celtic-Gaulish names or date back to the Middle Ages, such as Boulevard Clovis, Rue des Éburons, and Boulevard Charlemagne. The weathered head of Ambiorix stands in front of the apartment building at No. 23. Originally, it adorned a townhouse that was demolished in 1969.
Square Ambiorix was part of an ambitious plan by the architect Gédéon Bordiau to develop a challenging site that sloped up from the Maelbeek valley. Many of the original townhouses were demolished, but some have survived. The initial residents were wealthy Belgian families who constructed houses in various styles, including Art Nouveau. The neighborhood began to change its identity in the 1960s, when the European institutions arrived.
Families and residents enjoy the square, especially during spring and summer, when a “guinguette” offers refreshing drinks.
Maison de Saint Cyr: At Ambiorix number 11, tourists gather to photograph an exceptionally remarkable facade: the Maison Saint-Cyr is the fourth most photographed house in Belgium due to its eccentricity.
Arguably the most flamboyant project built in Brussels and the most famous worldwide, it was heavily criticized at the time by opponents of Art Nouveau for its decorations described as "baroque."
The house is incredibly narrow, barely 4 meters wide. It was designed in 1900 by architect Gustave Strauven for the artist-painter and decorator Georges Léonard de Saint Cyr. To ensure decent room width and maximum illumination, Strauven had to draw inspiration from the flourishing seaside architecture of the time, as well as some lessons from his mentor, the architect Victor Horta.
