Standfirst: From a normally closed cathedral tower and Brussels’ mysterious Masonic temples to private rooftops, diplomatic salons and the backstage world of La Monnaie, Heritage Days unlocks some of the capital’s most fascinating spaces on 19 and 20 September 2026. Reservations open on 8 September—and the most coveted visits rarely stay available for long.
For one weekend in September, Brussels gives curious residents and visitors the keys to the city.
The 38th edition of Brussels Heritage Days takes place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026. Under this year’s theme, “Our landscape, our legacy,” more than 200 buildings, gardens, viewpoints and guided experiences reveal how architecture, nature and daily life have shaped the capital.
Many locations are free to enter without a reservation. Others—often the most unusual—require advance booking through the official Heritage Days programme, with reservations opening on 8 September.
Here are ten places worth putting at the top of your list.
- Climb the South Tower of Brussels Cathedral
The Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula is familiar to almost everyone in Brussels. Its South Tower is another matter: normally closed to visitors, it opens exceptionally for Heritage Days.
The climb passes the great Last Judgement stained-glass window, medieval roof spaces and the cathedral carillon before reaching a 360-degree panorama over Brussels. It involves approximately 300 steps, so sturdy closed shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are essential. Children under 13 and visitors who suffer from vertigo cannot participate.
When: Saturday 19 September, guided visits between 10:00 and 17:15
Languages: French and Dutch
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: Place Sainte-Gudule 20, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
- Go behind the scenes at La Monnaie
The magic of opera begins long before the curtain rises. This guided visit enters the workshops and rehearsal spaces where La Monnaie’s scenery is imagined, constructed and assembled.
Visitors follow the creative journey from the design office to the assembly hall and studios, discovering how artists, craftspeople and technicians build temporary worlds with architecture, light, music and movement. With numerous tours in English, this is one of the weekend’s best options for Brussels’ international community.
When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 10:00–18:00
Languages: English, French and Dutch
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: La Monnaie Workshops, Rue Léopold 23, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
- Enter Brussels’ historic Masonic temples
Behind an unassuming façade on Rue de Laeken lies one of Heritage Days’ most intriguing discoveries. Since 1909, this building has housed some of Brussels’ oldest Masonic lodges.
Four temples are open to visitors, including one of the largest in continental Europe. Specialist guides explain Masonic traditions and the symbolism of the striking Egypt-inspired interiors. Groups are formed at the entrance according to language, and tours begin once at least five participants have assembled.
When: Sunday 20 September, 10:00–18:00
Languages: Groups organised by language at the entrance
Booking: No advance reservation indicated; expect a possible wait
Address: Rue de Laeken 79, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
- Discover the private rooftop of the Royal Library
KBR is already one of the Mont des Arts’ monumental landmarks, but this special tour goes beyond its familiar public spaces. Visitors gain access to hidden sections of the building and the rooftop terrace of the chief curator’s private apartment.
The reward is an exceptional view across central Brussels, along with a closer look at a building that incorporates fragments of several eras, including the 15th-century Nassau Chapel and parts of the 18th-century Palace of Charles of Lorraine.
When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 10:00–17:00
Languages: English, French and Dutch; the English tour is scheduled at 15:00 on both days
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: KBR, Mont des Arts 28, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
- Step inside the French Embassy
Diplomatic buildings are rarely among the easiest places to visit, making the opening of the French Embassy particularly tempting.
The visit combines two contrasting architectural worlds. The Résidence de France is an elegant neoclassical townhouse with a sequence of historic salons. The adjoining chancery, completed in 1909 by Georges Chedanne, is considered the only example of French Art Nouveau architecture in Brussels.
Visitors must bring valid identification.
When: Saturday 19 September, 10:00–17:30
Languages: French and Dutch
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: Rue Ducale 65, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
- Visit the magnificent Solvay Library
Hidden in Leopold Park, the Solvay Library is one of Brussels’ most atmospheric interiors. It was created at the beginning of the 20th century as part of Ernest Solvay’s ambitious Institute of Sociology—a place where international scholars could meet and exchange ideas.
Its rich woodwork, galleries and almost theatrical reading room evoke another intellectual age. Nearby, figures including Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr participated in the famous Solvay scientific councils. The building is now chiefly used for private and professional events, making Heritage Days a valuable opportunity to see inside.
When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 10:00–16:15
Languages: English, French and Dutch; English visits are scheduled at 12:30 and 15:30 on both days
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: Rue Belliard 137, 1040 Etterbeek
View the official listing
- See Brussels from the Federal Parliament
For a prestigious visit that does not require advance booking, head to the Palace of the Nation. Home to Belgium’s Federal Parliament since 1830, the building forms part of the carefully composed architectural landscape around the Royal Park.
A self-guided route leads through the salons of the House of Representatives and Senate, offering impressive views over the park. The circuit lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes, and an architectural model helps explain how Parliament fits into the wider Royal Quarter.
When: Saturday 19 September, 10:00–16:30
Format: Self-guided
Booking: No advance booking required
Address: Rue de la Loi 8–10, 1001 Brussels
View the official listing
- Look out over the European Quarter from ARLON53
Love it or loathe it, Brutalism has left a powerful mark on Brussels. ARLON53, designed by Jean Verschure and completed in 1968, is a fine place from which to explore that legacy.
The building’s rooftop terrace provides a fresh perspective over the European Quarter and tells a wider story: how a former residential neighbourhood evolved into the administrative and office district we know today.
When: Sunday 20 September, 10:00–16:30
Languages: French and Dutch
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: Rue d’Arlon 53, 1040 Brussels
View the official listing
- Reach the top of the Brusilia Tower
At 104 metres and 34 storeys, the Brusilia Tower was Belgium’s tallest residential building from its completion in the 1970s until 2014. Its curved form remains one of Schaerbeek’s most recognisable modernist landmarks.
For Heritage Days, visitors can discover the top-floor apartment and studio of artist-photographer Jacques de Selliers. On a clear day, the panorama stretches towards Zaventem, Mechelen and even Antwerp. Saturday visits continue into the evening, adding the possibility of seeing Brussels as the lights come on.
When: Saturday 19 September, 14:00–21:00; Sunday 20 September, 14:00–18:00
Address: Brusilia Residence, Avenue Louis Bertrand 104, box F34, 1030 Schaerbeek
Check availability and practical details
- Explore the terraces of the Palace of Justice
The monumental Palace of Justice dominates the Brussels skyline, yet its terraces and ramps are often crossed without a second glance. Architect Thierry Henrard leads an outdoor visit examining Joseph Poelaert’s design, unrealised projects and the way the building connects the upper and lower city.
This is an architectural tour rather than an interior visit, but it promises a more informed—and perhaps surprising—way of reading one of Brussels’ most controversial landmarks.
When: Sunday 20 September, 09:45–16:45
Language: French
Booking: Advance booking required
Address: Place Poelaert 1, 1000 Brussels
View the official listing
How to book Brussels Heritage Days 2026
Reservations open on 8 September 2026 through the official online programme. Select a venue or activity, choose an available time and follow the booking instructions.
The programme can be filtered by date, municipality, language, accessibility and activities that remain available without a reservation. Because popular rooftop tours and normally inaccessible buildings can fill quickly, it is worth booking your priorities first and building the rest of your itinerary around them.
All official Heritage Days activities are free unless otherwise stated.
Remember: Sunday is Car-Free Sunday
Sunday 20 September is also Brussels’ annual Car-Free Sunday. Motorised traffic is prohibited across the Brussels-Capital Region between 09:30 and 19:00, except for authorised vehicles. Public transport is free for the day.
That should make moving between central locations more enjoyable, but visitors travelling by car should plan carefully and park outside the restricted zone. Walking, cycling and public transport will be the easiest ways to explore.
The complete programme, interactive map and latest availability are available from Brussels Heritage Days.
