Between 1870 and 1910 the population of Brussels more than tripled from 250,000 to 800,000 which saw the city expand into the suburbs, thanks to the electrification of the tramways.
This expansion allowed opportunities for a new breed of architects including Victor Horta to break with tradition with the use of new technology and industrial materials such as cast iron and glass to develop a new form of architecture and design. This was Art Nouveau, which flourished in 15 or so European cities between 1890 and 1910 with Brussels particularly well represented with some 1,000 buildings, which are explored in this exciting tour with Prof. Anne Anderson or Dr Scott Anderson.
The group size on this tour is limited to 22 passengers to ensure that smaller sites can be visited and that you get a high level of attention.
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Full details included in the itinerary of this short break
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PASSPORTS
Valid passport required by all, except: (a) EU nationals holding valid national identification cards; (b) Holders of national identification cards issued to nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland.
TRAIN
As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Pancras, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform. Porters are sometimes but not always available at St Pancras. The Eurostar and French trains are very long (18 carriages in the case of Eurostar and nearly 400 metres long) so there can be quite lengthy walks from the station entrance to your seat. On all legs of the journey you have reserved seat and carriage numbers which are shown clearly on your ticket.
Marivaux Hotel, Brussels
Located about 500 metres from the historic Grand Place on elegant Blvd Adolphe Max, the four-star Marivaux Hotel is converted from an old cinema and is the perfect base for this tour. It offers a restaurant, bar and comfortable, well-appointed bedrooms with private bathroom, mini-bar, satellite TV, wifi and safe.
Marivaux Hotel Website
Day 1: Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and transfer by coach to check in for three-nights at the four-star Marivaux Hotel in the city centre. Afternoon walking tour taking in the exteriors of the Art Nouveau buildings in the city centre. Introductory lecture 'Horta and the Birth of Art Nouveau', welcome drink and dinner with wine at the hotel.
Day 2: Morning visit to the Horta House and Studio Museum, where he lived and worked. Afternoon walking tour to view the Hotels Solvay (internal visit), Max Hallet (internal visit) and Tassel - all built by Horta. Lecture at the hotel, 'Art Nouveau: Art for the People', before dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Morning visit to the Cauchie House, built by architect Paul Cauchie as a showcase for his work, followed by a visit to the Royal Museum of Art & History, which houses the major stylistic trends in decorative art between 1890 and 1940 including sculpture, glassware, ceramics, table silver and furniture. This afternoon we have a private visit to the Hotel Ciamberlani, built by Paul Hankar in 1897.
Day 4: Your final day is spent with a visit to the Fine Arts Museum and Musee Fin-de-Siecle followed by a short visit to the 'Old England' building, formerly a department store built in 1899 by Paul Saintenoy, which now houses the Museum of Musical Instruments. Time will be allowed for lunch before transferring to the station for return Eurostar to St Pancras.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 22 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Please note: as with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Pancras, but bags do need to be carried onto the platform.
Travel Editions recommends a new luggage delivery service called 'Carry My Luggage', where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and a 20% discount off the Carry My Luggage service exclusive to Travel Editions clients.
You will have the option to book your own flights independently with the operator.
Dates | Price | Single | |||
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18-Mar-2021 for 3 Nights |
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Offering a wide range of extended tours and cultural short breaks for the discerning traveller, Travel Editions was established in 1994 and is now one of the leading specialist independent escorted tour operators in the UK. The company started with the idea of creating itineraries that were not readily available on the high street, and the team still remains focused on offering escorted tours that appeal to travellers rather than tourists.
Over the years, Travel Editions has developed and diversified its range of escorted tours to include rail tours, air tours, history tours, Christmas tours and even specialist interest tours that have specific appeal for walkers, foodies, art lovers, music addicts and flower enthusiasts. From enjoying wonderful walks and tasty local cuisine in Crete to visiting the art nouveau buildings of Milan and exploring the architectural gems of the Netherlands, Travel Editions creates amazing tours to suit every budget and interest.
As rail transport is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel, the company has carefully developed nearly 30 exciting escorted rail tours that include trips to France, Spain, Brussels, Arnhem, Luxembourg and the Italian Riviera. Travel Editions believes that the journey becomes part of the holiday, and is why this specialist tour operator also offers a range of tours by air, such as Delphi and Mount Pelion in Greece, the beautiful Italian city of Florence, and Paphos, Nicosia and the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus. Whatever the escorted tour or the destination, Travel Editions provides holidays that are packed full of cultural and historic treasures, as well as plenty of free time to relax and soak up the local atmosphere and the regional food and wine.
One of the best things about Travel Editions is that the team can tailor-make all tours to your group’s budget and specification, be it shopping till you drop in New York or tasting the most delicious gastronomic delights of Sicily. Not only can the activities be tailored to meet your requirements but so can the travel options, hotel selection (three, four or five-star hotel) and the whole itinerary. Alternatively, you can simply pick one of the many carefully curated escorted tours listed on the Travel Editions website.
In almost all cases, daily excursions are included in the price of a trip, and all excursions are taken by private coach. The size of the group varies depending on the escorted tour, and Travel Editions limits some holidays to lower numbers to suit the nature of the specific holiday. Walking, culinary and special interest tours are limited to approximately 20-30 passengers, and the Europe by Rail and Europe by Air holidays are limited to a maximum of 35 passengers. Then there’s the UK British Heritage Tours with a maximum capacity of 49, however, some are much less than this. No matter which tours you choose, you will never feel as though you are in a big group.
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In addition to offering extended tours and cultural short breaks, Travel Editions offers a large range of special events in the UK that bring the culture and history of the United Kingdom to life. These events can be found in the Art & History Abroad programme and include expert speakers, entertaining concerts and impressive dinners in historic locations.