History is always around you

Having lived in Paris for 2 years, I got used to seeing history on every corner and big, magestic buildings whenever I went further than a few blocks. Being back in Brussels now, I have to be honest that I don't always get the same feeling. But there is one place that always brings awe and a sense of history. In Parc Léopold in Etterbeek, in front of what is now Lycée Emile Jacqmain but was formerly l'Institut International de Physique Solvay, is one of the most famous locations ever for physics. At the fifth conference focused on open problems in physics or chemistry, organized by belgian innovator and industrialist Ernest Solvay, what might be the biggest meeting of minds ever in physics took place, immortalized by a photo. The park is nice, albeit a bit small, and is surrounded by busy streets and relatively bland buildings. But visiting this park always inspires me in a certain way, and also makes me happy to be in Brussels.

The famous photo of the fifth Solvay Conference On Electrons and Photons held from 24 to 29 October 1927. 17 of 29 attendees were eventual Nobel Prize winners.

My photo of the same place on 06 November 2020.

The plaque describing the location, written in French, Dutch, and English in typical Brussels fashion.