Hotel Metropole History/Heritage

The heritage Metropole Hotel is as much a part of the history of Brussels as its Grote Mark’t. Find out about the humble beginnings of the Hotel Metropole and how it flourished into one of the most luxurious hotels in Brussels today.

As one of the most well-known, distinguished heritage hotels in Brussels, a stay at the Hotel Metropole Brussels is like a step back in time to Belgium’s heyday in the late 1800’s when the city underwent an urban renewal.

In 1890, two brothers with a brewing company opened Café Metropole as a place in the city to sell their beer. The café was a huge success and the Weilemans-Ceuppens family then purchased the building next-door, a former bank, which would become the Hotel Metropole, inaugurated in 1895. Today, the hotel’s reception desk is easily recognizable as the desk of the former bank, a significant historical and heritage glimpse of the past.

The brothers commissioned French architect Alban Chambon to be the chief designer of the hotel. Today, Chambon’s design of modern comfort and luxury is still a prominent feature of the heritage hotel, which is considered an important historical landmark in the city.

Not only was Hotel Metropole one of the first luxury hotels, it was also the first to have electricity and central heating, and is now the only existing 19th century hotel in Brussels. In fact, many heritage tours of Brussels visit the Hotel Metropole to look upon its facades and design.

The hotel’s reception, lobby, and lounge are overtly ornate with Corinthian columns, rich furnishings, gilded details, and glittering chandeliers – all which can still be seen and experienced today at the hotel. Similarly, the meetings and conference rooms of the hotel are decorated in Renaissance style.

In 2002, the hotel, along with the council of Monuments and Siates of the Region Bruxelles Capitale worked together to protect the façade and ground floor of the heritage Hotel Metropole – working to preserve the painted canvas ceilings and the design of the 19ieme Bar lounge.

Since its opening, the hotel has hosted royal families to Nobel Peace Prize winners, astronauts, Hollywood celebrities, and rock stars. In fact, in 1911, the Hotel Metropole was the site of the legendary Solvay conference, which would host distinguished guests like Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. Later, the likes of Axel Rose and Jean Claude Van Damme would also be guests at Hotel Metropole.

The hotel’s award-winning gourmet restaurant l'Alban Chambon has an incredible reputation for French gastronomy but be sure to save room for a drink on the outdoor terrace (heated during winters) of Café Metropole to watch passerby’s and take part in a long-standing tradition for locals and guests at the Hotel Metropole.

Hotel Metropole Brussels is a short walk from Grand Place, La Bourse, the famous Mannekin Pis statue, the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, Saint-Hubert Gallery, the Comic Strip Museum, and many more attractions/sights in Brussels.

Hotel Metropole is a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection. Double rooms start from £262 per night. For more information or to book please visit http://www.ghotw.com/metropole or call +44 (0) 20 7380 3658.