So this is it, I’m finally reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë. It’s happening because of the timely Villette Read-Along organized by Wallace over at Unputdownables.
I’ve been curious about this one for a while now, ever since moving to Brussels actually, because this city inspired the fictional one which gave the name to the novel . Emily and Charlotte lived here for a while and that’s why there’s a Brussels Bronte Group, of which I’m a proud member. It seems that several of the references to places in Villette are clearly connected to real places in Brussels, so I’m really looking forward to this!
The Pensionnat Héger in Quartier Isabelle, where the sisters lived, has long been destroyed, but the Group placed a plaque in the only piece of original street still visible above ground (there’s another part in the catacombs of a local museum). This was done without asking the Brussels municipality, so shhhh, it’s just between you and me, ok?
Whenever friends come to visit I always pass by while giving my usually city tour, but usually my enthusiasm is way above theirs… “Brontë who?! Whatevs!”
A piece of rue d’Isabelle in the Belvue Museum:
A small piece of Quartier Isabelle still remains. See the plaque between the doors? Tinny blue spec?
The plaque. You can read here all about the Secret Mission to put it there! Notice the reference to Villette:
The Sleepless Reader 
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February 4, 2011 at 1:15 am
Christina
I always get excited when I am able to visit a place characters in books lived/visited. I recently read a book about the uprising in Budapest and have added two locations mentioned in the book to the list of places I want to see when I visit in March.
February 4, 2011 at 3:25 am
Ash
I was actually just in Brussels a month ago. I totally forgot that the setting for Villette was inspired by it though, I wish I would have remembered it then! I read the book about a year ago. I really enjoyed it!
February 4, 2011 at 4:45 pm
ksotikoula
Hello! I’m glad you are reading Villette. I nearly can’t choose between it and Jane Eyre for my favorite book. A small correction only: at the beginning of your post you write “Anne and Charlotte lived here for a while and that’s why there’s a Brussels Bronte Group, of which I’m a proud member”. You wanted to write Emily instead of Anne right? Anne never went to Brussels at all.
February 4, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Alex
@Christina: Which one was that? I’ve only read one set in Budapest (that I can think of) and that was “Budapest” by Chico Buarque, the Brazilian singer.
@Ash: Brussels is great. Did you do some tourism or was it only for work?
@Ksotikoula: completely right! I’ve made the change. Anne is my favorite, so I guess, my mind slips to her easily 😛
February 4, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Steph
I LOVE seeing literary aspects of cities when I visit… probably not surprising! Didn’t realize that there was this connection with Brussels, however! My time there was spent at the CBBD, laughing at Mannekin Pis, and dodging bed bugs!
February 4, 2011 at 8:48 pm
nymeth
Guess who’s going to Haworth tomorrow? 😀 By the sound of it, Brussels should be my next stop 😛
February 5, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Wallace
I’m SO glad that you are actually THERE to show us all of this awesome insider stuff!!! I loooooove this kind of stuff as well (same sentiment as the rest of the commentors… I guess that’s why we all read/write book blogs, haha). I wonder if Christina was talking about Invisible Bridge? It’s the new one about Budapest.
Nymeth– I very much want to go to Haworth. Have a tentative trip planned for April, but it might be moved to the fall… Lyndsey at Amused, Bemused, and Confused is a great resource for a trip there!
February 6, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Jay
You all are sooo tempting me to hop on this Villette read-along bandwagon. I’ve had a paperback copy of the book gathering dust on a nightstand in my bedroom for years. I should just knuckle down and finally read it, now that I would have company. Hmm…
-Jay