Our hotel is just a stone's throw from Square Ambiorix

An emblem of the city of Brussels, Square Ambiorix is renowned for its French-style gardens designed by architect Gédéon Bordiau and for its name, which honors the king of the Eburones, who defeated Julius Caesar.
A beautiful green space located north of the European Quarter of the Belgian capital, it is a place for strolling, leisure, and constant wonder.

A square near the European Quarter
The European Quarter is very important in Brussels. A business district that notably hosts the buildings of European institutions, it attracts many people—businesspeople, politicians, and visitors. Square Ambiorix borders it to the north, offering this busy area a breath of fresh air and the gentleness of its greenery.

A hotel near the Squares District
The area simply called the "Quartier des Squares" (Squares District) is where the Chelton Hotel is located, encompassing Square Ambiorix and the adjoining Square Marie-Louise. This district was built in the Maelbeek valley, a tributary of the Senne River, as part of Brussels’ eastern expansion. These squares were part of the urban design project led by architect Gédéon Bordiau.

The architectural project of the Squares District
At the northern edge of Square Ambiorix, curious passersby can admire the remarkable Art Nouveau facade of the Maison Saint-Cyr. This masterpiece by architect Victor Horta represents, according to UNESCO, “the most accomplished expression of Art Nouveau style in art and architecture.”
According to Gédéon Bordiau’s plans, each plot around the squares had to feature picturesque facades with projections or turrets. This is why the Squares District features various architectural styles, with Art Nouveau being the most elegant and original, but also includes Flemish Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, and eclectic styles.
Brussels was once the capital of Art Nouveau, and this is still visible in the Squares District, close to the 9Hotel Chelton.

History and architecture of Square Ambiorix
Square Ambiorix is the centerpiece of the grand urban plan designed by Gédéon Bordiau in the 19th century for the northeast of Brussels, of which beautiful remnants still remain. The canalized waterway and about fifty filled-in ponds now leave only the one in Square Marie-Louise, adjacent to Square Ambiorix. Four consecutive squares were developed from west to east, with a road cutting Square Ambiorix perpendicularly, making it the center of the urban composition.
This grand ensemble offers remarkable views thanks to the sloping terrain. A bronze statue in realistic style beautifully decorates Square Ambiorix. It is Horse at the Watering Trough, a work by sculptor Constantin Meunier, commissioned by the City of Brussels. It depicts a tired, worn-out man from the working class, sitting astride his horse, which stretches its neck to drink.

Designed as a French-style garden, the geometric spaces covered with lawns and bordered by straight or curved paths shape the square, which features three pools. The first, at the top of the square, is circular; the second is rectangular, composed of three basins connected by waterfalls. The third, at the bottom, is semi-circular. You’ll find flower beds, sculptures, remarkable trees, and a playground built by the City in recent years. It is one of the most beautiful squares in Brussels.