Programme
Walk / Guided tour
238 Tournay-Solvay Castle
[Castles]
Tournay-Solvay Castle stands in the park of the same name. It was first built in 1881 and extended in 1905. After a fire in the 1980s, it was abandoned. Its reconstruction, largely conceived as a restoration, entered a new phase of building and extension in 2025. The views from the castle over the park and its surroundings are particularly remarkable. The new Belvédère meeting room, created above the roof, offers a 360° view with a striking outlook over the Sonian Forest.
The calm and nature in the middle of the city provide an inspiring setting for the ULB and the BEL Centre for Research in Physics (Brout-Englert-Lemaître), which brings together researchers from KU Leuven, UCLouvain, VUB and ULB. The park, managed by Brussels Environment, deserves to be better known, with its rose garden, orchard, pond, spider trees, Olmec head and former stables.
Set in greenery, the Tournay-Solvay estate shows how built heritage and natural landscape can reinforce one another. The castle is not the only attraction: this green setting holds many more surprises.
The park is freely accessible on Saturday and Sunday from 08:30 to 19:30.
The interior of the castle is accessible only as part of guided tours with booking.
Two guided tour formats are offered: a 40-minute visit devoted exclusively to the castle (in collaboration with Brussels Chatterguides) and a 75-minute visit combining the castle interior with a guided walk in the park (in collaboration with Arkadia).
Practical information
Saturday and Sunday from 09:45 to 18:30
chaussée de La Hulpe 199, 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort
Advance booking required.
Not wheelchair accessible
Assistance dogs allowed - Lift available - Toilets available