21. The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie

An important downtown landmark, La Monnaie is one of the rare large-scale examples of Neoclassical public architecture in Brussels. The opera house played a significant role in connection with the outbreak of the Belgian Revolution due to an episode during a performance of the Muette de Portici opera. The edifice was built between 1817 and 1819 based on plans by Louis Damesme, and consists of a Neoclassical building on two levels with a front portico surmounted by a pediment and ringed by an arcade. In 1855, the auditorium succumbed to flames; only the pediment by Eugène Simonis, the walls and Damesme's peristyle were spared. Joseph Poelaert, the future architect of the Palace of Justice, took charge of the reconstruction. Over the years, La Monnaie has been subject to numerous architectural and artistic transformations. The guided visits will explore the opera house and its workshops, including the iconic Main Theatre. 

The visits are accessible to wheelchair users.