Avenue Louise, which gets its name from the daughter of Leopold II, is currently one of the streets with most traffic in the city, as it is one of the gateways to Brussels. This, however, has not always been the case. 

The avenue was created in 1864 to link the centre of the city with the district of Ixelles. Originally, it was a tree-lined avenue that soon became the period’s street of the aristocracy par excellence. In fact, even today, the northern zone of this avenue still retains traces of this elegance, and a whole series of designer shops, such as Gucci and Versace, can be found here. 

It was, however, at the time of the 1910 World Fair that the Avenue Louise changed from being a pleasant avenue to become one of the city’s main traffic thoroughfares. So much so that in the nineteen-fifties and -sixties, underpasses had to be built to overcome the problem. 

Nevertheless, some buildings worthy of mention are still standing here. Probably one of the most important buildings you will find is Hôtel Solvay. Located at number 224, this small palace was constructed in art nouveau style by the architect Victor Horta, upon commission by the Solvay family. Of note are its symmetrical facade, the elegant forms of its doorway and the decoration of its balconies. 

It would therefore not be a bad idea at all for you to pay a visit to the area to enjoy the distinguished feel still preserved in some sections of this street. This avenue is, in fact, practically unavoidable if you also wish to visit the Ixelles district.