Attractions
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The Grand Place is the heart of Brussels and has been
since the Middle Ages. One of Europe's more beautiful squares, it
lies in the centre of a confusion of small cobbled streets, and is
surrounded by richly decorated 17th century Baroque Guildhouses,
various Neo-Gothic buildings and museums. It is, however, the town
hall, a magnificent Gothic building that dominates the square.
Markets, flower stalls and various events are held here and this is
the place to get to grips with the essence of Brussels, perhaps
over a local delicacy at a pavement café.
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The distinctive statue has been described as the
Eiffel Tower of Brussels and tourists throng the streets in search
of the tiny urinating urchin. The bronze Mannekin is thought to
represent the 'irreverent spirit' of Brussels, but there are
numerous tales about its beginnings. Started by Louis XV of France
many years ago, it has been the custom of foreign countries,
companies, visiting dignitaries or charities to donate an outfit to
the Mannekis-Pis and the little boy is usually decked out in the
latest costume; previous costumes are displayed in the City of
Brussels Museum.
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Brussels' city hall is rated as the most splendid
civic building in Europe. The foundations were laid in 1402 and it
survived the mercifully inaccurate bombing during World War 2 when
most of the other buildings on the Grand Place were destroyed. The
façade is embellished with gargoyles and images of nobility while
the intricate 100 metre-high tower is resolved by a fine statue of
St Michel, patron saint of Brussels. Tours are available - well
worth it to see the fine tapestries and miscellaneous works of art
inside.
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Mall lovers everywhere should make a pilgrimage to the
Galeries Royales Saint Hubert, the very first shopping arcade in
Europe. Opened in 1847, the arcade became a draw card for the cream
of 19th century society and today continues to inspire shoppers and
browsers alike. The building itself is an architectural marvel:
arcaded shop fronts across two floors are separated by pilasters,
conceived in a Cinquecento style. The roof above is made of arched
glass panes connected by a delicate cast-iron framework - very
photogenic! In between the various shops you'll find cafes,
restaurants, a theatre and even a cinema.
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Belgium's magnificent Royal Palace was built in the
19th century as the official residence of the Belgian Royal family
although today is used for official functions and other ceremonial
purposes. The palace is positioned in front of Brussels Park,
itself well worth exploring, and directly opposite the modern
Parliament building as if symbolically representing the country's
system of government, a constitutional monarchy. Tours are only
possible in summer and commence after the National Holiday on 21
July. Inside are a multitude of historical artefacts and some
impressive contemporary art, commissioned by the queen in
2002.
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An unmissable attraction for art lovers: the twin
Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art are Brussels'
premier art museums. They feature art from the 15th to 18th
centuries (ancient) and 19th century to the present day (modern).
The larger of the two is the Museum of Ancient Art, opened in 1887,
featuring the best collection of Flemish art in the world;
highlights include works by van Dyck and over 20 paintings by
Rubens. The Museum of Modern Art was opened in 1984 and includes
fine examples from Belgium's best artists over the past century,
plus modern legends such as Francis Bacon.
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Forget the Mannekin Pis - this is the structure that
best symbolises Brussels and certainly the one locals are more
proud of. Built for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium takes its
shape and proportions from the internal lattice of an iron atom.
There are nine spheres linked by escalators and each contains
exhibition rooms hosting a rapidly changing series of exhibitions.
There is a great view from the deck of the uppermost
sphere.
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Belgium's love of wacky humour and comic book art come
together in this wonderful museum housed in a fabulous Art Nouveau
building designed by Victor Horta. You'll see plenty of its most
famous subject, Hergé's Tintin, as well as the Smurfs and art from
over 670 cartoonists. This is a temple to cartooning, now
considered an art form worthy of serious consideration, and so the
museum aims to trace the history and development of the discipline
rather than to entertain.
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The Chocolate Museum is a fitting tribute to both the
history of the cocoa bean and the Belgian's famed love of
chocolate. The first chocolatier in the city appeared in the 1600s
and today Belgians eat an average of 9kg a year! Visit on Tuesday
to Friday between 10am and 3pm and you'll to see the master
chocolatier at work and get to taste his handiwork.
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Under the direction of King Leopold, the Belgian Congo
returned fantastic riches to Belgium in the 19th century, yet the
people of that colony paid a terrible price. This museum was
founded to explore the relationship between European colonial
powers and the people they subjugated. Recent exhibits have
broadened the museum's focus to include environmental issues and
ethnography in Africa, Asia and South America. The museum is
situated on beautiful grounds in the Flemish commune of Tervuren,
just outside of Brussels.
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With interactive and educational exhibits, the
Brussels Children's Museum is a wonderful place to take the kids to
enjoy learning and playing. From learning about colours, careers,
the body and even watching shows on themed exhibits, children will
be entertained from start to finish.
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This village was originally created for the 1958 World
Exhibition and houses some of Brussels' most popular tourist
attractions. The Oceadium water park, Mini Europe, a Kineopolis
cinema and the world-renowned Atomium are all located here, making
this a great day out for the whole family with plenty of eateries
to stop and grab some refreshments and a bit of fuel for the next
attraction.
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Located next to another one Brussels' most popular
tourist attractions, the Atomium, Mini Europe contains miniatures
of all of Europe's favourite attractions at a scale of 1:25.
Approximately 350 attractions can be seen from around 80 cities.
Mini Europe is one of Brussels' leading attractions, bringing in
over 300,000 visitors annually.
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With dozens of exciting and thrilling rides, children
will be simply captivated at Walibi Belgium Amusement Park. With
terrifying roller coasters and children's favourite cartoon
characters such as Tweetie Pie and Bugs Bunny, your children will
love you for taking them here.
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Featuring fascinating displays and exhibitions, kids
will enjoy a trip to the Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium, and
in particular the dinosaur section, the largest of its kind in
Europe. Other points of interest for younger visitors are the
PaleoLab where fossils and replicas of mammoths are on display, as
well as the Evolution and Animal Kingdom sections.
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