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Fan of Art Deco? Visit this beautiful villa and enjoy its various exhibitions. Learn something new and be stunned by this former home to a Belgian baron.

Imagine exploring a beautiful art exhibition, enjoying an awesome live concert or even taking a yoga class in a private Art Deco-style villa -- with a pool. Sounds like a dream, right?

Well, stop dreaming and check out this hidden gem! A short tram ride away from Brussels is Villa Empain, which once was home to a Belgian baron. These days it’s home for the Boghossian Foundation, which finances social, educational and artistic projects not only in Belgium, but also in Lebanon and Armenia.

A little background: the luxurious Villa Empain was commissioned in the 1930s by Baron Louis Empain, a Belgian financier. Its 2,500 square meters include a well-kept garden, a huge swimming pool with a pergola and a caretaker’s lodge. In 1937, Baron Empain donated the property to the Belgian State with the intention of having it host a museum on decorative and contemporary art.

Cut to WWII: the villa passed in the hands of the German army first, then the USSR, and only in the 60s was Baron Empain finally able to recover his property. He sold it in 1973 and, until the 90s, the Belgian TV channel RTL rented it.

  • A new beginning: since 1995, the building was unoccupied for over a decade. In 2006, the Boghossian Foundation acquired and renovated the property. Nothing was left to chance: it took two full years before Villa Empain could be ready to be one of Bruxelles’ cultural gems again.
  • The main goal of the Boghossian Foundation is to contribute to youth education and to the development of a dialogue between the East and the West, while also presenting and conserving modern and contemporary works of art.
  • Year-round, the Villa is home to exhibitions, concerts, conferences, dance performances, workshops for kids, film screenings, and even yoga classes. If you’re curious to see what’s on at Villa Empain right now, take a look at its current exhibitions, or check out their website for more information about all the activities offered.
  • Every year, the Foundation also awards different prizes to young, promising artists from Belgium, Armenia and Lebanon. This is a way to support young talents and -- hopefully -- showcase their work.
Updated on 5 September 2022

Tips and Tricks

  • You must book your tickets online before visiting the Villa.
  • Craving something to eat? Head to Restaurant Beli and enjoy a quick snack or a drink in what was once Baron Empain’s private salon. Get ready to try some mouthwatering Armenian-Lebanese delicacies.
  • The Villa is fully accessible to those with special needs. There’s a back door and lift access on all three levels. Call +32 0497 46 12 64 or e-mail them, so the team can open the back of the building for you.
  • Spend your special day at Villa Empain: free entrance on your birthday!
  • Free brochures available at the entrance (in several languages).

Getting There

  • By Car: free parking available close to the Villa (Avenue Franklin Roosevelt and Avenue Victoria) -- only with parking disc
  • By Tram: close to tram stop Solbosch. Trams 25 and 8 stop here
  • By Bus: close to bus stop Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Buses 71 and TEC 366 stop here.
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Tu to Su, 11:00 to 18:00

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All seasons

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10€ (adults), 4€ (under 26), free for kids under 12, free every first Wednesday of the month, groups of at least 8 people: 8€ per person

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Open; national COVID measures apply.

Related Articles
  • Villa Empain official website
    The official website of Villa Empain
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