The Cercle Royal Gaulois rents its historic salons for receptions, colloquia, seminars, gala dinners, cocktails and other private or professional events. The largest room, the Salle des Caryatides, seats 320 at dinner or holds 400 for a cocktail. The club stands at Rue de la Loi 5 in Brussels, in the Parc de Bruxelles, a few steps from the Palais Royal and the federal Parliament.
Seminars and company events
The Cercle is a members' club of about 1,100 people, formed from the merger of the Cercle Artistique et Littéraire de Bruxelles, founded in 1847, and the Cercle de la Toison d'Or, founded in 1911. Outside its own activities, it opens its salons to professional events. The official site describes them as listed, richly decorated and fitted with audiovisual equipment, with the aim of hosting seminars, colloquia, receptions and gala dinners in the heart of Brussels.
The location suits institutional and corporate gatherings, since the Palais Royal, the federal Parliament and the main national institutions are all close. Ask the team which audiovisual setup comes with each room.
Weddings and receptions
The site lists receptions and private events among its uses, and the club also lends its salons to societal and philanthropic gatherings. It does not present a wedding offer, so ask the team before planning a ceremony.
Rooms and capacities
Five salons can be rented. Three come with figures on the official site.
The Salle des Caryatides measures 30 by 12 m, 360 m². It is a neoclassical room from 1821 dominated by two musicians' balconies decorated with caryatids sculpted by François Rude. It takes 320 seated for a meal and 400 standing for a cocktail.
The Salle de Lorraine measures 19 by 8.5 m, 161.5 m², with natural light, a Louis XVI style and Corinthian pilasters. It seats 140 for a meal and holds 180 for a cocktail.
The Salon Royal measures 8.5 by 6 m, 51 m². It seats 50 or holds 45 for a cocktail, and the club's governing bodies also meet there. It suits receptions and intimate dinners.
The Salon Bleu and the Salon Galerie are also available for hire, but the official site gives no figures for them. Ask for their size and layouts.
Catering
The club has its own kitchen and its own chef, who serve members and guests at lunch from Monday to Friday in several dining rooms or, in good weather, in the garden. The site does not say whether this kitchen caters to rented events, so confirm the catering arrangements when you enquire.
History and setting
The club brings together diplomats, lawyers, academics, company directors, artists and writers. Its Section Artistique et Littéraire counts about a hundred artists and organizes concerts, openings and book presentations through the year.
Getting there
The entrance is at Rue de la Loi 5, 1000 Brussels, at the edge of the Parc de Bruxelles. The club can be reached by phone at +32 2 500 10 80.
