13. Pathé Palace Cinema

The Pathé Palace was the first cinema in Brussels to combine a brasserie with a concert hall. It was built in 1913 by the architect Paul Hamesse in a geometric Art Nouveau style that already foreshadowed Art Deco. The architect also incorporated certain eclectic elements from the Hôtel de Ventes, which had previously stood on the site. The cornice of the main façade is crowned by a fruit basket surmounted by a cockerel, the emblem of Pathé Frères, the company that commissioned its construction. The cinema could seat 2,500 people and featured a stalls area, two balconies, foyers, annexes and a spacious bar in the basement; this exceptional capacity earned it the status of ‘the capital’s largest cinema’. Following an extensive restoration, the Palace reopened its doors in 2018. The tour focuses on the Hamesse foyer and its gallery, which have been faithfully restored to their original state.