Royal Museum of the Armed Forces & Military History (War Heritage Institute)
Brussels
0.40 Km 00:01
Art & History Museum
A visit to the Art & History Museum is ideal for those who like travelling without leaving the city, taking the time to understand the world and being surprised by the richness of civilisations. An experience to enjoy fully, during a cultural getaway in Brussels, alone, as a couple or with family, for the pleasure of discovery and an open mind.
- Monday : Closed
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Information
Art & History Museum (MRAH) – A fascinating journey through civilizations and styles
The Art & History Museum, nestled in the heart of Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels, is one of those places where time seems to stretch, overlap and converse. From the very first rooms, visitors are invited to trace the thread of humanity, from its earliest origins to the creative impulses of the early twentieth century. Here, every object tells a story, every gallery opens a window onto a civilization, a craft, a vision of the world.
Far from a static visit, the experience unfolds as a continuous exploration, rich and stimulating, where archaeology, art and history interact with elegance. Just minutes from the centre of Brussels, the MRAH offers a cultural immersion of remarkable depth, capable of captivating both art enthusiasts and curious visitors, whether exploring with family or on their own.
From the origins of humanity to the great ancient civilizations
The journey begins far back in time. The archaeological collections lead you to the very origins of humanity, before immersing you in the great founding civilizations. Ancient Egypt continues to fascinate: the mummies, steeped in mystery, inspire silence and contemplation. A little further on, Greece and Rome reveal their sense of balance, power and organization of the world.
The monumental model of Rome inevitably draws attention. Visitors linger over it, searching for details and imagining the vibrant life of the ancient city. The spectacular Apamea mosaic, for its part, impresses with its finesse and scale, reminding us how decorative art was already a universal language.
A dialogue between continents and cultures
What stands out at the Art & History Museum is its ability to create a dialogue between cultures. Belgian and European collections stand alongside those from North America, South America and Asia, presented in a fluid and thoughtful perspective. The eye moves naturally from one to another, encouraging comparisons, awakening curiosity and the desire to understand.
Among the emblematic pieces, the great moai of Easter Island commands attention with its silent and magnetic presence. A powerful testimony to a distant civilization, it alone embodies the museum’s universal spirit. Pre-Columbian art, with its symbolic forms and carefully crafted materials, completes this global panorama, reminding us that human creativity expresses itself everywhere, in infinitely varied forms.
Art Nouveau and Art Deco: elegance as a legacy
The visit continues into more recent periods, with a particular focus on Art Nouveau and Art Deco, beautifully showcased in the new galleries. Brussels tapestries, decorative objects and furniture testify to an exceptional refinement, deeply rooted in the artistic history of Brussels and Belgium.
The Victor Horta Wolfers room is a highlight of the visit. It embodies the transition to modernity, where art enters everyday life with boldness and elegance. The lines, materials and details tell the story of an era of intense creative energy, at the crossroads between tradition and innovation.
Visitors often find themselves slowing down, observing the light playing across surfaces and enjoying the simple pleasure of thoughtfully crafted beauty. The museum then becomes a place to pause, ideal for wandering and quiet wonder.
Opening times
Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 - 17.00. Saturdays and Sundays: 10.00 - 17.00 • Closed on Mondays, 1/01, 1/05, 1/11, 11/11 and 25/12.
Price
Permanent exhibitions: adults €10 • seniors (65+) €8 • children and students (0-18 years) free of charge
Guided tour
Subject to prior booking
Tour length
2 hrs
Group
Price (min. 15 people) Adults: €8 for permanent exhibitions • children and students (0-18 years) free of charge
Guided tour Subject to prior booking (+32 2 741 73 02)
More information • Museum shop.
Weather in Brussels
Events
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Price
Enfants: 5,00 € - Normal: 12,00 €
Dans le parc du Cinquantenaire se trouve un petit bâtiment ressemblant à un temple grec. Pour le jeune Victor Horta, ce pavillon fut sa première commande publique. La conception, qui intègre des éléments de typologie grecque, montre également les prémices de l’Art nouveau, visibles dans les détails. À l’intérieur se trouve le relief monumental "Les Passions humaines" de Jef Lambeaux. Cette œuvre impressionnante (11 mètres de long sur 6 mètres de haut) en marbre de Carrare représente les plaisirs et les souffrances de l’humanité.
Depuis 1898, le petit temple néoclassique de Victor Horta et le relief de Jef Lambeaux sont inextricablement liés. La relation tumultueuse entre les deux artistes, le nu sensuellement sinueux, et le bâtiment souvent fermé en raison de son état précaire ont contribué à l’histoire, au 'scandale' et au mystère autour du pavillon. Après une restauration approfondie en 2019, le pavillon a retrouvé sa grandeur d’avant la longue fermeture.
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Price
Enfants: 5,00 € - Normal: 12,00 €
In het Jubelpark staat een gebouwtje met de uitstraling van een Grieks tempeltje. Voor de jonge Victor Horta was dit paviljoen zijn eerste overheidsopdracht. Het ontwerp, dat Griekse elementen bevat, vertoont ook de beginselen van de art nouveau, zichtbaar in de details. Binnenin bevindt zich het monumentale reliëf De menselijke driften van Jef Lambeaux. Dit indrukwekkende kunstwerk (11 meter lang en 6 meter hoog) in Carrara-marmer beeldt de genoegens en het leed van de mensheid uit.
Sinds 1898 zijn het neoklassieke tempeltje van Victor Horta en het reliëf van Jef Lambeaux onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden. De gespannen relatie tussen beide kunstenaars, het sensueel kronkelende naakt, en het vanwege zijn precaire toestand vaak gesloten gebouw hebben bijgedragen aan het verhaal, 'schandaal' en mysterie rond het paviljoen. Na een grondige restauratie in 2019 hervond het paviljoen zijn oorspronkelijk grandeur.
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Opening times
01/07/2026 - 30/08/2026: * monday: closed * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:30 to 17:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 17:00
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Price
Etudiants: 4,00 € - Seniors: 8,00 € - Normal: 10,00 € - Enfants: 0,00 €
Download the ErfgoedApp for free and select this tour at the Museum of Art & History.
ZAP! You’ve just been catapulted 200 years back to 19th-century Belgium! Choose your character and find your way through a world of long skirts and top hats. A time when photos were printed on glass, bicycles had two different wheels, telephones had a funny little earpiece and dolls had porcelain heads…
Do you see what I see? Find the objects in the display cases and scan them to answer questions and learn more about the lives of children from the wealthy European middle classes. By the way, the tour is also packed with facts about things you won’t see in the gallery, such as how poorer children lived and which 19th-century innovations we still use today.
Once back in the 21st century, be sure to pop back to the welcome desk for a dip into the treasure chest!
A search and fact trail for families with children aged 8 to 11 as part of Schatten van Vlieg/Trésors de la Mouche. Takes about an hour. You’ll need to download the ErfgoedApp (FARO), which you can do at the welcome desk. Please bring your own device.
Included in the admission ticket.
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Price
Enfants: 5,00 € - Normal: 12,00 €
In the Parc du Cinquantenaire stands a small building with the appearance of a Greek temple. For the young Victor Horta, this pavilion was his first public commission. The design, which incorporates Greek elements, also shows the early signs of Art Nouveau, visible in the details. Inside, it houses the monumental relief The Human Passions by Jef Lambeaux. This impressive artwork (11 metres long and 6 metres high) in Carrara marble depicts the pleasures and sorrows of humanity.
Since 1898, Victor Horta's neoclassical temple and Jef Lambeaux's relief have been inextricably linked. The tense relationship between the two artists, the sensually winding nude figures, and the building, often closed due to its precarious condition, have all contributed to the story, 'scandal', and mystery surrounding the pavilion. Following an extensive restoration in 2019, the pavilion regained its initial grandeur.
