Hotel Metropole in Brussels

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Recently (in april 2020) the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, capital of Belgium,
was mentioned in the newspapers as bankrupt due to a lack of money
and the Covid-19 crisis. This is a sad thing for the Belgian Tourism
and the Hotels in Brussels.

Hotel Metropole at the Brouckière square in Brussels was the
only working hotel, founded in the 19th. century.

Hotel Metropole Café in Brussels


History

In 1890, two brothers decided to open Café Metropole, to sell their
own beer. It became a real success and later the family after café
Wielemans-Ceupens bought the bank near the café to create a big
hotel. They asked architect Alban Chambon to build a beautiful
place. It was the first hotel in Brussels with electric lights and
central heating systems.

In 1911, the hotel hosted the famous Solvay conference with
inter alia Einstein, Marie & Pierre Curie as guests.

In 1957, a big reception (before Expo '58) took place at the
Hotel Metropole in Brussels.

In Hotel Metropole Toots Thielemans, a famous Belgian
musician, made his debute at the Jazz Orchestra of the Café.

Hotel Metropole in Brussels



Famous royal guests

Hotel Metropole in Brussels had the reputation to be the place-to-be
for royals and other VIP' such as:

- Shah of Iran;
- the Prince and Princess of Bourbon-Parme;
- Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands;
- The Prince of Croy;
- Prince Henry of Ligne;
- Duke of Aoste;
- King Leopold III of Belgium;
- Prince Charles of Belgium;
- Queen Fabiola of Belgium;
- Prince Carol of Romania;
- Prince Michaël of Romania;
- President De Gaulle;
- President Eisenhower;
- President Hoover
and many more.


The location was used in movies and even in books.

* Mortelle Randonée (1982)
* in the novel 'Soumission' from Michel Houllebecq the café
was used.


It is sad that one of the most beautiful icons of Brussels has to
close its doors.

On this link you'll find an article from Het Laatste Nieuws,
written in Dutch about the bankrupt of Hotel Metropole.


In 2021, newspapers in Belgium wrote that the bar of Hotel Metropole
was re-opened again! I hope this means a brand new start for
this legendary hotel too! 




I took these pictures during a visit to Brussels in 2015
Location: Brussels, Belgium

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