Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire

The Cercle Gaulois, in full the Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire, is a Belgian club in Brussels that promotes art. The club has the aim of constituting a friendly, intellectual, artistic and literary meeting place, free of any political, cultural or philosophical tendency. Its current president is Philippe de Wouters d'Oplinter.

The club is located at 5 rue de la Loi in the historic Vauxhall building in Brussels Park, behind the Royal Park Theatre.

History
The Cercle Royal Artistique et Littéraire was founded in Brussels on 23 November 1848. The Cercle de la Toison d’Or ("Circle of the Golden Fleece") was founded in Brussels on 23 December 1911, and its name was changed to the Cercle Gaulois on 13 June 1919. The Cercle Gaulois became the Cercle Royal Gaulois by authorization of His Majesty King Leopold III of Belgium on 16 February 1937. In 1950, the Cercle Royal Gaulois merged with the Cercle Royal Artistique et Littéraire and changed its name to the Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire.

Functions
Today, the club serves many purposes. It organises concerts, exhibitions and conferences in which all forms of art are represented, including culinary art. Following a tradition that dates back to 1971, every Tuesday evening, a club member is appointed master of fine dining. This member creates a menu together with a head chef and presents it to the guests. At the end of the meal, this member is appraised.

Notable members

 * Comte Étienne Davignon
 * Armand Dedecker(died in 2019)
 * Albert Frère (died in 2018)
 * Baron Derrick Gosselin
 * Comte Pierre Harmel (died in 1977)
 * Tony Mary
 * Gérard Mestrallet
 * Diego du Monceau de Bergendal
 * Michel Tilmant
 * Karel Van Miert (died in 2009)
 * Alain Siaens
 * André Antoine
 * Comte Paul Buysse (died in 2023)
 * Vicomte Mark Eyskens