When staying at our hotel or even passing by it, it is difficult to imagine all that happened in this iconic place, one of the most authentic of Brussels. Together, let’s dive into five secrets our hotel is hiding and learn more about the history of this wonderful place.
1.
A timeless site
During the first year of construction in 1908, work had to be halted when remains of the ancient city walls were discovered on the site where the hotel was to be built. To be as conservative as possible and to keep the historical aspect of the place, arches have been built over the old walls to protect the remains that tell the story of Brussels.
2.
The ultimate comfort
Upon its opening in 1910, the Doubletree Brussels was the only hotel in Belgium featuring 500 rooms all equipped with a private bathroom and a private telephone. The hotel was also the only one with an air-conditioning system. This was out of the ordinary at that time and a showcase of the hotel modernity!
3.
A true technical feat
The hotel's construction was a true feat of engineering, as some of the figures testify. When it opened in 1910, each pillar of the brasserie supported 400 tones of structure and 8 million bricks. Today, as we are expending the hotel, we are keeping those historical elements which are part of the identity of this iconic place!
4.
A unique wine collection
Another gem of this hotel was its incredible wine cellar, one of the most spectacular one at that time in Brussels. More than 70 000 bottles were gathered in 700 separate niches all refrigerated to the perfect temperature to ensure the perfect conservation of the wine.
5.
The reference place for celebrities
The hotel has been the home of many celebrities through the years. Within the walls of this iconic venue, celebrities such as Grace Kellly, Brigitte Bardot, Royal Highnesses such as Prince Philippe, Prince Rainier of Monaco and King Hussein of Jordan, Gina Lollobrigida, Jean Poiret, Rita Hayworth... had the opportunity to stay in this historical place.
