Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts (Brussels)

The Royal Museum is the largest art and cultural venue in the city and comprises four separate entities known as the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Constantin Meunier Museum and the Antoine Wiertz Museum. The latter two are located elsewhere and dedicated to the artists whom they are named after. In total there are over 20,000 drawings, sculptures, and paintings dating from the 15th century to the present day, including many iconic Flemish masters and 20th century surrealist art. On short breaks in Brussels, art buffs can also spend hours exploring a rich variety of European art including classic French impressionism and baroque sculpture.

 

It is the stately repository of the very best of Belgian art, with perhaps the highlight being the huge Rubens Room, a permanent exhibition showcasing over 20 of his most famous paintings. Other significant artists displayed here include Pierre Brueghel, Anthony van Dyck, René Magritte and Hieronymus Bosch. Must see exhibits to look out for on Brussels weekend breaks include the ‘The Fall of Icarus’ and ‘The Death of Marat’. The building itself is as much of a work of art, designed in regal Beaux Arts style. The Sculpture garden complete with huge ornamental lake is a must see and a fine place to relax and contemplate the meaning of art.

 

Guided tours are a good option, especially if time is a little limited during cheap city breaks in Brussels. You can choose themed tours concentrating on individual artists or an artistic period. Special programs take place at weekends for all the family to get creative or there are large group tours for young kids, including creative workshops, storytelling and face painting just for starters. There is always a wealth of things going on which include film and music events and a number of temporary exhibitions at any given time.