Hello Walkers!
I just got home from about 8 hours walking around St. Gilles and Forest and wish we could have a three hour walk instead of a two hour one, but I'll do my best! I won't have to rush off for my daughter tomorrow, so depending on where we get to by tea time, I may offer to show those of you who want to continue a little more, if the weather is nice again. I haven't learned much more about parking near the Hotel de Ville of St. Gilles, but can give you the streets which surround it. It's on Place Meurice Van Meenen. Ave. A. Demeur runs along the front and Rue de Savoie along the back, Rue de Lombardie on the east side and Rue Arthur Diderich along the west. There is no parking lot anywhere around but in general the streets did not seem densely packed. There are many ways to get there by public transport. The nearest tram stop is Horta which has the 81 and 82 trams which originate at Merode (close to Cinquantenaire's parking, so that's a possibility if you must drive and want to be sure to park easily.) Allow about half an hour for the tram ride from Merode, just in case. (Note, at Merode, the tram stop is on the north side of Ave. de Tervuren, not on Ave. de la Chasse which it then turns to go down immediately after the stop.) When you get off at Horta, just walk forward a little and you'll see the H de V up on the left. If you have extra time, I highly recommend walking to park Louis Morichal which has a splendid row of Art Nouveau houses along the near side. Tram 18 goes to the Barriere tram stop direct from Gare du Midi (allow about 20 minutes) At Barriere, which is a 7 pointed star traffic circle, take Ave. P. Dejeer one block to the Hotel de Ville -- you should be able to see it from the circle. The "pre-Metro" stops at Horta metro stop, which is not the same as the Horta tram stop. I think this also comes from Gare du Midi, but I've never taken it. On my transport map, it looks like it's the number 3 tram and makes fewer stops, underground, on the way to Horta. If you take it, walk south half a block and look to your right. I think you'll see the Hotel de Ville. We will meet in the covered courtyard of the Hotel de Ville de St. Gilles among the enormous parade mannequins and go in to look at the inside at 1:05 p.m. sharp. If you are late, go in and wait by the back door, looking out onto the Ave. Jef Lambeaux which leads up to the prison -- that's the way we'll leave to begin our walk, about 10 minutes later. We won't be able to visit the inside of the Hotel de Ville de Foret unfortunately, since it's closed after 11:45 most days, except by appointment, but we can peer in the big doors and see the amazing deco stained glass. Let me know at 02 742 9162 between 8:30 and 9:00 Friday morning if you plan to come. Or feel free to send me an e-mail. I promise to check! Looking forward to seeing you all, and praying for sunshine -- it was so pretty today! Kathleen
