Jessica Rabbit Wiki. Vicki Dugan photo
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the unofficial capital of Europe. The European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO headquarters and the offices of world corporations are located here. But in terms of tourism, this is not the most interesting Belgian city. A few days will be enough to see the main attractions of Brussels and go to more interesting places, for example, in or in .
Grand Place is the central square of the Belgian capital and one of the most beautiful squares Europe. This is the first place in Brussels that every tourist should visit. The Grand Place simply amazes with the luxury of its architectural decoration. Each knowledge is unique and unlike any other. The tallest and oldest building in the square is the town hall. Opposite it used to be the King's house, but now it is the Brussels City Museum.
Once every two years, in mid-August, the Grand Place is covered with a carpet of flowers. It is photographs of the “flower square” that appear on postcards of Brussels as one of the main attractions of the city. The next time the Grand Place will be decorated with flowers is in 2018.
Parliamentarian - interactive museum at the European Parliament. Here they talk about the past and present of Europe, as well as what awaits us in the near future.
Free admission. You can also take a free audio guide in the language of one of the EU countries. As you already understand, there is no audio guide in Russian or Ukrainian.
Address: Rue Wiertz 43
Opening hours: Tue. — Fri. 9:00 – 18:00, Sat. and all 10:00 – 18:00, Mon. 13:00 - 18:00
Manneken Pis is one of the TOP 10 most disappointing attractions in the world. However, he attracts millions of curious eyes around him. Everyone wants to feel the disappointment and resentment for wasting their time. How many people write that there is nothing to see, but this does not stop tourists.
Sometimes the boy can be seen in clothes. His wardrobe includes more than 600 different costumes for festivals and holidays.
Address: Rue de l'Etuve 46
Pissing girl
Since 1984, Brussels has had a statue of a girl peeing, but it is not as popular as the boy. She is not dressed up in costumes, and the attraction is hidden behind bars. No one knows what the girl did wrong.
The statue is located opposite the Delirium pub, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records for the most large collection beer, more than 2,000 varieties in one place.
Address: Impasse de la Fidelite 10-12
Chocolate Museum
Belgium is famous for its chocolate, so almost every Belgian city has a museum of the sweet drug. The chocolate museum in Brussels is not as big as in Bruges, but it is also very interesting. On the ground floor there is a master class on making chocolates, where you can learn a lot of interesting things. For example, how milk chocolate is prepared, what products are included in white chocolate, and how to prepare filled candies. The master class is conducted in English, French or Dutch.
On the second floor there are exhibits telling the history of chocolate: what beans are used, what countries they are brought from, why chocolate and cocoa drinks have earned such popularity, etc.
I really liked the museum, it is worth the money and deserves the attention of tourists. However, if you are planning a trip to Bruges, I recommend visiting the chocolate museum there. Firstly, it is larger in Bruges. Secondly, they show interesting documentary about cocoa beans - how they are collected, fermented, transported to Europe and chocolate is made from them.
Address: Guldenhoofdstraat 9
Many cities have their own business card. For Paris it is the Eiffel Tower, for London it is BigBen, for New York it is the Statue of Liberty, and Brussels has its own, called the Atomium.
The Atomium is a huge monument (102 m), which is a model of an iron molecule enlarged 160 billion times. The structure consists of nine spheres connected to each other by pipes. You can move from one sphere to another using the stairs or an escalator. Inside the spheres there are exhibitions, both temporary and permanent. The exhibitions are dedicated to world peace, the breakthrough in atomic energy and the Sabena airline.
Personally, I didn’t like it at Atomium, from the word “at all.” When you pay 12 € for an entrance ticket, you expect something more interesting. The unusual structure of knowledge is, yes, beautiful, but that’s where it all ends. The exhibition is so-so, not for everyone, but I found it boring. Even the observation deck does not save the situation.
Groupon.be often offers discounts on admission to the Atomium. Instead of 12 € you can pay 8.40 €.
Address: Avenue de l'Atomium
Not far from the Atomium there is an interesting Mini-Europe park. In just 2 hours you can see the most famous sights: , Big Ben, wind turbines, Athenian Acropolis and many others. The park's exposition includes 80 cities and more than 300 buildings.
Europe in Miniature is one of my favorite places in Brussels, the park is really interesting. To make your visit even more enjoyable, here are a few tips:
- Groupon.be sometimes has promotions for admission to Mini-Europe. By purchasing a coupon, you will pay 10 € for entry instead of 15 €.
- It's no secret that it is better to visit sights on weekdays. There are many more tourists here on weekends or holidays.
Coordinates: 50.8941610, 4.3387620
Opening hours: 9:30 – 18:00
50th Anniversary Park
The 50th Anniversary Park gained tourist attraction thanks to the triumphal arch, which almost completely copies the Parisian one. During the warmer months, the Sancantener lawn becomes a huge picnic area. Lying on the grass, drinking wine and chatting about eternal things is one of the popular ways to spend leisure time in Brussels. Concerts and festivals are also often held here.
Just next to the arch there are two popular museums: the Royal Army Museum and Autoworld. When planning a route around the sights of Brussels, you can do several things here at once: take a walk in the park, or visit a museum.
Museum of Musical Instruments
The Museum of Musical Instruments somehow doesn’t excite the imagination at all. Which one of you can be surprised by it?! We saw most of the instruments in music lessons, with friends or at concerts. But believe me, you will love this museum!
The Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels is a huge four-story building, the rooms of which contain instruments from different parts of the world. main feature The museum is that you can listen to the sound of each of the instruments using an audio guide, which is given at the entrance. As if under a spell, you move from exhibit to exhibit, wrapped in a blanket of incredible melodies. My rating for this museum is 5+, it is completely worth the money. It will be interesting for both adults and children over five years old.
Price entrance ticket 8 €
Opening hours: daily from 9:30 to 17:00
Address: Rue Montagne de la Cour 2
Comics Museum
Walking around Brussels, it’s easy to guess that the Belgians have a deep love for comics. Many buildings in the central part of the city are decorated with colorful designs. local artists. What contribution has Belgium made to the development of comics? How, when and by whom were world-famous characters created? All this can be learned from the Comics Museum in Brussels.
We put off going to the museum for a long time and, apparently, for good reason. I didn’t like it, but I was delighted, Dima was delighted. Why is that?
- The Comics Museum is good for those who speak English, French or Dutch, because its essence is to walk from stand to stand and read about the history of the comic, the character or the artist.
- You need to at least love/understand this genre of art. If not, you, like me, will be bored.
My discovery: I didn’t know that The Smurfs and Asterix were the work of Belgian artists. I still learned something useful!
Entrance ticket - 10 € for adults, 7 € for youth 12-25 years old, under 12 years old - 3.5 €
Address: Rue des Sables 20
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00
Monument to Charles Bulls
In the center of Brussels, on Grasmarkt Square, there is a fountain with a monument to the former burgomaster, Charles Buls (1881 - 1899). Thanks to him active position to preserve the historical part of Brussels, today we can admire main square city - Grand Place. Charles Buels was an ardent opponent of any kind of reconstruction and allocated a considerable amount for the restoration of old buildings, for which he was highly respected by the townspeople.
Of all the described places in Brussels, in my opinion, the ones that are really worthwhile are the chocolate museum, mini-Europe, the Parliamentarium, the museum of musical instruments and the Grand Place. I recommend paying attention to them first, and only then exploring other sights of Brussels.
Have good weather and delicious waffles :)
If you have any questions, ask in the comments!
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
People who have visited Brussels are divided into two categories: those who believe that there is nothing to do there (the city can be explored in 3-4 hours) and those who, having lived there for a couple of weeks, did not have time to see everything. Both opinions have a right to exist. And in order to accept one point of view or another, you need to visit this controversial city. Although, probably, this can be said about any city. After all, being in different places our globe, different people solve different problems - that’s why different attitude to the places you visit.
Brussels rarely has good weather - leaden skies - familiar picture. This city also cannot boast of stunning buildings - all around there are buildings made of glass and concrete, diluted with houses of different ages. The specificity of the city is not “streaming” sightseeing (when, just walking, you explore the city), but visiting individual objects, sometimes located at a decent distance from each other.
Most people associate Brussels with the famous “Pissing Boy” fountain, but few people know that there are a couple more monuments of a similar theme there: “Pissing Girl” and “Pissing Dog”
and this is in the city where the headquarters of the European Union and the NATO office are located - one feels that the Europeans are all right with humor.
Of course, one of the most visited places by tourists is Grand Place. The square is very beautiful, surrounded by houses built in the 17th century. You can see nearby monument to the mayor of Brussels Charles Bouls. It was he who preserved the square in its original form.
In general, for us a monument is something monumental, large, majestic. The Belgians have a different opinion. For them, a monument is unequally exalted and pompous:
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula in Brussels- a prominent representative of Gothic art. All epithets will fade with his beauty. He's not great, he's stunning. Its beauty and grandeur are indescribable. Neither a photograph nor a video can convey all the power and at the same time the lightness of this structure:
The doors of the cathedral are open every day from 8 am to 6 pm.
And this is also Brussels:
Perhaps the most unexpected attraction of the European capital. The construction of these unusual structures for Europe was the fun of King Leopold II, but after his death, it turned from fun into a museum of oriental art. It features a Japanese pagoda and a Chinese pavilion, which displays a collection of Chinese porcelain. The museums are located near Heysel Stadium and are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday. Entrance 3 euros.
If you find yourself in Brussels on the eve of such famous event like "Night of Museums" - I don't envy you. Just one! night and a lot of museums, which even a few days are not enough to explore. "Museum of Chocolate and Cocoa"; "Museum of Comics"; "Beer Museum"; "Museum of Musical Instruments"; "Royal Museums fine arts" - and this is just a small list. Here you will have to make a painful choice between your passions.
Rene Magritte Museum. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10 am to 5 pm). Surrealism begins immediately - from the building in which the museum is located:
A magnificent collection of paintings by this famous Belgian artist will not leave indifferent even those who are far from art.
Museum of Costume and Lace. Opening hours Thursday-Tuesday (from 10 to 17). This is a different kind of beauty than paintings and architecture. Here you can get acquainted with the weightless and delightful products of local lacemakers, national costumes adults and children.
Army Museum. It’s surprising that a museum on such a theme is located right here. After all, Belgium is a non-military state, but the collection of weapons, tools, and ammunition in Brussels is rich. The museum area is huge. Large equipment is located in hangars. The entrance is free.
Autoworld Museum is located opposite the military one. The exhibition is arranged according to a time frame, so that as you walk between exhibits, you observe the evolution of the automotive industry. Entrance 9 euros.
It’s important for each person! And Brussels offers this of its own. This is a city where everything is in moderation. It is not overloaded with attractions, but that is its charm. There are many museums and authentic streets here. There are funny monuments and strict cathedrals here. The most delicious waffles, beer and chocolate are here. Perhaps a few hours will be enough for someone to explore the MAIN attractions, but who knows WHAT exactly these attractions are? The ones described in guidebooks? Come to Brussels and find YOUR place here!
Is the answer helpful?
Despite the global post-war reconstruction, the capital of Belgium still has something to see for visiting tourists. Consider such city attractions as the Royal Palace and the Atomium.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is located on a small hill in the Brussels Park. Due to its strategic advantages, this area has been attractive to members of ruling families for centuries. Already at the end of the eleventh century, Kaudenberg Castle was located here - the Dukes of Brabant lived in it for several centuries, until the fire of 1731. The first modern Royal Palace was founded in the eighteenth century during the reign of William the First.
After a century, a revolution took place in Belgium, and the first ruler of the new country was Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. But significant changes in the interiors of the building began only during the reign of his heir, Leopold II, who preferred more luxurious living conditions. The area of the Palace doubled, the interior decoration of many chambers was updated, giving it greater pomp and splendor. The modern facade, pleasing to the eye of tourists today, appeared in the Royal Palace in 1904.
These days, the royal residence is located in the Laeken Palace, and formal meetings are held in the Royal Palace. Now anyone can have free access to the inner chambers and galleries of the Palace. Nowadays, any tourist can see the Mirror Room, which has a ceiling decorated with the wings of scarab beetles, as well as the Imperial Room, which has excellent golden pots with eleven flowers - each of them representing one of the Belgian provinces. The most luxurious and magnificent room is the Throne Room. It was initially created as a room where social balls were held - in pursuance of the order of Leopold II. The way the hall is chicly decorated, the splendor of crystal chandeliers, the dimensions of the room in width and height - all this allows us to understand the influence of pompous and luxurious French classical architectural art on King Leopold II of Belgium.
One of the palace buildings houses the Bellevue Museum. In former times it was a hotel under the same name. Many famous personalities have visited here. Nowadays the Belgian is located here Historical Museum– in it you can see artifacts and archives that are related to the emergence and development of the Belgian nation – from 1830 to the present day.
The Royal Palace is open from July to September, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00.
The Bellevue Museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00, on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00.
As for the cost of visiting, admission to the Royal Palace is free, but a fee is charged for visiting the Bellevue Museum: adults - five euros, pensioners and groups of 15 people - four euros per person, students pay three euros. For children and teenagers under eighteen years of age, admission is free.
Atomium
The industrial twentieth century will remain in the memory of generations as a time of comprehending the secrets of the atom and using it hidden power for various purposes. One of the symbols of the capital of Belgium is a monument that symbolizes the endless prospects for the peaceful use of energy hidden in the atom. It's called Atomium.
To see this architectural marvel, you should take tram number 81, which departs from the central part of the city, passing a series of solid, but very monotonous buildings that are characteristic of today's Europe, and get off at the final station of Heysel. Here you will see this breathtaking structure, which is rightfully considered one of the capital’s attractions.
The monument sparkling in the sun is a model of an iron molecule enlarged one hundred and sixty-five billion times. It was designed by Andre Waterkein. In essence, the Atomium is a huge, one hundred and two meters high, very complex structure, which includes nine spheres, each eighteen meters in diameter, as well as twenty pipes connecting them. In six areas you can visit inside, the pipes are equipped with escalators and connecting corridors, while in the central one there is a high-speed elevator, which is one of the fastest in Europe.
In just twenty seconds, this elevator can take you to a restaurant or observation deck located in a ball that is higher than all the others.
From here you have a wonderful view of the capital of Belgium, its palaces, cathedrals, straight buildings in a modern architectural style and crooked streets preserved in the historical part of Brussels. Nowadays, few can remember that the construction of the Atomium also had a political background in the confrontation between two systems. However, this does not prevent tourists from enjoying the city landscape from a bird's eye view. From this place you can clearly see the “Europe in Miniature” park, located nearby. This can help save you an extra fifteen euros and avoid the negative impression of some sketchy layouts located there.
In one sphere, which seems to be composed of cells different color, there is a small hotel - here you can spend the night admiring the views of night city. This pastime will probably be most interesting for those who come here with children - after all, they are interested in such non-standard things.
There is a small cafe in the Atomium - here tourists have the opportunity to eat, interrupting for a while the inspection of this very large-scale building. In other areas that are accessible to tourists, there are exhibitions.
A walk through the Atomium will not put a big dent in a tourist’s wallet - children under six years of age have free admission, from six to eleven - two euros, from twelve to eighteen - six euros, students and pensioners - six, while the rest will have to pay only nine euros.
The atrium is open to visitors from 10:00 to 18:00, December 24 and 31 from 10:00 to 16:00, December 25 and January 1 from 12:00 to 16:00. The Heizel metro station is located close to this city attraction.
Brussels has always happened to me in passing, on a tangent. A quick tour of the main attractions of Brussels: Grand Place, Mannequin Piece, Royal Palace, Church of Saints Michael and Gudula, Belgian waffles, chocolate, cherry beer, lunch with a pot of mussels - and further: in Bruges, Antwerp, ...
The first time I was amazed by the Grand Place. Indeed, this is the first attraction of Brussels; in this city (and perhaps in the whole of Europe) nothing compares to it.
Then there were two or three more such passages through Brussels. Grand Place was still amazing, but dissatisfaction settled in my soul. I saw beautiful houses in the Flemish style mixed with modern glass-concrete buildings, well-kept parks, representative churches. I wanted to master this space, be an idle reveler in it, feel its spirit.
The opportunity finally presented itself. While looking for tickets to, I found a good option with a transfer in Brussels. At 5 pm we arrived in Brussels from Moscow and a day later we went to Milan.
Well, great. We took tickets and found a hotel for the night in Brussels. We chose Hotel Windsor (13, Place Rouppe) for its walking distance to the Grand Place. The hotel is modest, 55 euros per night without breakfast. There is no prepayment required; cancellations made up to two days before arrival are free of charge.
At 5 pm our plane landed at international airport Brussels.
Trains run from the airport to the city center (approximately every 15 minutes). We followed the signs to the trains and bought a ticket from the machine.
There are three train stations in the center of Brussels: Brussels Nord (North), Brussels Centrale, Brussels du Midi (South). The map showed another station - Brussels de la Chapelle, between Centrale and Midi, and it was the one closest to our hotel. But the train doesn't stop there.
So we reached the last station – Midi. From the airport to the city center the train takes about a quarter of an hour.
Evening walk around the Grand Place
When we left the station, it was already dark. It was raining. From Brussels du Midi we had to go out onto Stalingrad Avenue and walk along it to Place du Rup, where our hotel was located.
The beginning of the avenue was not immediately found, but we circled around. And the area seemed unpleasantly Arabic and scary to us. And somehow there were few people on the streets.
Finally we found a “white” man - a local resident with a dog, who put us on the straight highway of the avenue. And along it we already cheerfully reached the Windsor Hotel.
Our room turned out to be small, but warm and cozy (in Lombardy we appreciated what a blessing this was - the hotel owner cruelly skimped on heating).
We dropped our things and went for a walk around the city. Stalingrad Avenue after Rup Square continued with Midi Street. We followed it.
At first deserted, as it approached the center of the Rue du Midi it became more and more lively.
And then, in the alley, the tower of the Town Hall appeared above the roofs of the houses, and the buildings of the Exchange and the Church of St. Nicholas appeared in front.
I didn't even realize it was so close.
There were brightly lit shops with souvenirs and chocolate (God, what kind of sweets were there!).
At the chocolate store
The Grand Place seemed unusually quiet. And it felt somehow good - soft, quiet, calm. The lighting of the buildings is silver-golden.
Evening Grand Place
House of the King
A few tourists walked around the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert (also called the “umbrella of Brussels”).
Tulips in the Hubert Gallery
On the Rue de Bouchere, nicknamed “the belly of Brussels,” forks were clinking as some dined at tables outside, but most sat inside the cafes. Through the windows one could see open fires on braziers.
Stained glass windows of the Church of St. Madeleine
On the streets of evening Brussels
An impromptu concert was taking place on the square with the monument to Mayor Charles Bulls. Apparently, the professional choir decided to sing for the soul, to the joy of those around them, and got so excited that they gathered a large crowd.
We first looked: people in jackets, on the street, some kind of amateur activity. But after listening to how well they sang, we decided that with such a repertoire and such voices it was quite possible to perform on a professional stage.
Entrance to the Toone Puppet Theater
In Brussels you often see drawings on the facades of houses.
Map of Brussels with landmarks
Our route for day 2 on the map:
Brussels, Lower Town
The next morning we woke up to the sound of a bell calling respectable parishioners to service. I looked out the window: two bell towers rose above the roofs, well, very nearby.
Soon we were leaving the hotel. By the way, we looked at Roop Square in daylight. It turned out to be quite nice, with a fountain in the center.
Roop Square
Very quickly we found ourselves around railway tracks, which in this place go along the border of the Lower and Upper cities.
A sharp rise and we are there Notre-Dame de la Chapelle, the 12th-century church in which Pieter Bruegel the Elder is buried (and lived next door on rue Haute).
Notre-Dame-des-Chapelles
Before that, we were walking through a completely empty city. The church was filled with people, a service was going on.
Leaving Notre-Dame de la Chapelle, we again descended into Lower city and headed to the center.
Just houses
This is such a fun display
We came across the remains of an old fortress wall.
Remains of the fortress wall
The city was still deserted. On Sunday morning, presumably, some Belgians sit in churches for services, while others sleep off. In any case, walking through the desert European capital– this is a special pleasure.
Morning Brussels
So, going down a narrow street and turning our heads left and right, we suddenly found ourselves in front of the most famous fountain in Brussels - Manneken Pis (Mannequin Pis), who at this early hour stood completely alone. Unusual picture.
Mannequin Piece
When we reached Grand Place, then for some time we were almost alone there. We walked along the deserted square from one house to another, looking at it. No, it’s impossible to get used to beauty. Every time is like the first time.
We go to the Grand Place
Arrived film crew, started filming something around Houses of the King. Flower growers appeared and began arranging flower pots.
Film crew in front of the King's House
From the Grand Place, past Exchanges we walked to St. Catherine's Square.
Sculptures on the frieze
Behind the backdrop of St. Catherine's Church stands Black Tower, a remnant of the 12th century fortress wall. The neighboring house (Hotel Novotel Brussels) seems to flow around it on three sides.
Black Tower (which, in general, is not black)
St. Catherine's Church
On the left of St. Catherine's Church a long narrow square begins. On one side there is the Wood embankment (Quai Au Bois a Bruler), and on the other there is the Brick embankment (Quai Aux Briques). Apparently, there was once a canal at this place. Now in the center of the square is the Sainte-Catherine metro station.
Side façade of St. Catherine's Church
Pavilions in the center of the square - Sainte-Catherine metro station
The canal square ends with the Anspach fountain with an obelisk, sculptures, and crocodiles. I was surprised to learn that the monument was erected in honor of burgomaster Jules Anspach. What do crocodiles have to do with it?
Fountain-monument to Burgomaster Aspach
From the square at the end of one of the streets the façade was visible Church of John the Baptist at Beguinage.
Church of John the Baptist on Beguinage
Let's go there. Inside the church we felt completely alone for some time until we came across two rows of tents set up in the side nave. The sign indicated that this was an Afghan refugee camp. We made it all the way to Brussels. And now they live in the church in tents.
Inside the church. Magnificent carved pulpit
Tents inside the church
Afghan refugee camp at the Church of John the Baptist
Two more churches followed: Saint Nicholas And Cathedral of Saint-Michel and Sainte-Gudule.
Inside the cathedral
The cathedral is decorated with stained glass windows
There were services going on everywhere and there were a lot of people.
Brussels, Upper Town
From cathedral We climbed up the steep streets into the Upper Town and very soon found ourselves near Palais des Nations. In the depths of the Rue de la Loie, when the lens was very close, one could see Triumphal Arch, installed in front Fifty Years Park.
In front of the Palais des Nations there is a small pleasant park with sculptures. The branches of the trees are turned out and mercilessly stretched so that they stretch along the frame in straight parallel lines.
Palais des Nations
Park between the Palais des Nations and Royal Palace
Once upon a time, the Russian Tsar Peter and his retinue bathed in one of the fountains of this park. In one of the ravines a monument was erected to the wonderful Russian Tsar.
Behind the park there is a wide Palace Square With Royal Palace.
Royal Palace
The flag on the Royal Palace is at half-mast - it means the king is absent. In the absence of the king, tours of the palace are conducted.
Near the right wing of the Palace is the Museum of Dynasties. Between the palace and the museum there is a passage to the courtyard. There we found a summer cafe and a garden with blooming magnolia.
Courtyard with magnolia
Behind the Royal Palace there is another large square: Royal. In its center is an equestrian monument to Godfrey of Bouillon, one of the leaders of the first crusade.
Monument to Godfrey of Bouillon
The rider looks at the Lower Town, which is clearly visible from the square; There is a steep, wide descent leading to it. Between the Lower and Upper Towns on this descent there is a terrace with monumental buildings and a luxurious flower garden - Mount Arts.
Gottfried looks at the spire of the Town Hall. Between them is the Mountain of Arts
At the very beginning of the descent, on the right, there is a remarkable building in the art nouveau style - Old England. Now there is a museum of musical instruments there. Visitors are given headphones when approaching any musical instrument the melody played on this instrument sounds in the headphones.
Museum of Musical Instruments
Behind the rider is a tall, bright temple with a representative portal on columns - Church of St. James on Kudanberg. Secular buildings adjoin it on both sides, so you can’t immediately tell that this is a church.
Church of St. James on Kudanberg
Inside, it is decorated with white stone, light and solemn, without frills. Lots of photos royal family. It is the main church of the Belgian armed forces.
Church inside
Photograph of the royal family
Also located in the church family tree royal family - very modest
A little diagonally from it is, which consists of two museums: old masters and contemporary art. Tickets to each museum are separate and cost 8 euros. When purchasing a ticket at the box office (the box office is general), you need to clarify what you need: “old masters” or “art modern”.
The museum is stunning; lovers of Old Flemish painting will be delighted. Bosch, Memling, Bruegel, Rubens...
Phantasmagoria of Bosch
Brussels is a city built on a swamp
The street in front of the Museum of Fine Arts (Rue de la Regence) is closed by a huge Palace of Justice. It is popularly nicknamed "mammoth". When we were there, its façade was covered with scaffolding.
Palace of Justice, or "mammoth"
On the way to the Palace of Justice, we passed a Gothic church made of light beige stone - Notre-Dame du Sablon, we went into a lovely garden Petit Sablon, along the perimeter of which there are sculptures depicting representatives of various crafts.
Notre-Dame du Sablon
Petit Sablon Garden
Craftsman figurines
In the depths of the garden there is a fountain-monument to Egmont and Horn, fighters for the independence of the Low Countries from Spain, who were beheaded on the Grand Place.
Poelaert Square in front of the Palace of Justice is a match for the building itself, and, in general, in Belgium, as I understand it, they don’t skimp on squares and show the “product” (i.e. palaces and churches) face to face.
In the center of the square there is a war memorial topped with a golden crown.
War memorial
And on the edge there is an observation deck from which Brussels, or rather the Lower Town, is visible at a glance.
Observation deck
The bell tower of Notre-Dame de la Chapelle rose right in front of us, a little further away the white spire of the Town Hall, and if we got too close we could see crystal cell Atomium.
City Hall Spire
Atomium in the distance
To the left, another “mammoth, or even a “mastodon”” stuck out from the thick of the city - Basilica of the Sacred Heart. When it was built at the beginning of the last century, it was assumed that the church would be able to accommodate all the residents of Brussels. The dome of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart can be reached by elevator.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
After marveling at lower Brussels, we approached the Palace of Justice.
Palace of Justice
A grandiose building. Everything is gigantic: columns, openings, flights of stairs, statues. You feel like an ant. I thought: maybe all this pomp is a consequence of the smallness and youth of the state of Belgium. Probably, countries also have a “Napoleon complex.”
Another film crew
Co observation deck we went down to the Lower Town by elevator. There was only time left for lunch, and it was time to head to the airport.
At first we wanted to eat a traditional pot of mussels, but we spent too long walking around the city and among the paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts, so we ran into the first cafe we liked and were content with potatoes with sausages and a glass of beer.
While we were waiting for the order, we unfolded the map - which station should we go to next? It seems that Gare de Bruxelles Centrale is the closest.
We ate and went to look for the central station. And he found himself not far from the square with the mustachioed burgomaster, behind the tall and narrow Magdalene Church. There the descent begins, I even thought that this was the entrance to some kind of underground museum. It turned out that this is the Central Station hidden underground.
There we spent some time looking for a ticket sales machine. Finally, the tickets were purchased and we headed to the airport to soon take to the skies and take another look at the suburbs of Brussels from above.
That's all we managed to see in one day in Brussels. There are enough attractions in Brussels and the surrounding area for more than one trip: the Atomium, Sacré-Coeur (in both cases go up), Mini-Europe, numerous museums and parks are left for next trips.
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As the capital of Belgium, the city of Brussels is the main center of the country and the entire European Union. It's no surprise that Brussels offers visitors a wealth of exciting attractions, including street markets, a stunning royal palace, over a dozen fantastic museums, and a variety of breweries and shops. All these places guarantee you maximum pleasure. When visiting Brussels, do not forget that there are also very interesting places outside the city. These day trips from Brussels cover not only Belgium but also neighboring countries. So let's start our an amusing trip in the vicinity of Brussels.
About an hour's drive west from Brussels is the Belgian city of Tournai with unique story. For a short period of time, the city was under British rule, which is reflected in its architecture and culture. Today, many visitors head to Tournai to see its magnificent cathedral. Be sure to climb the bell tower, which offers stunning views of the entire city center. Much of the architecture around the cathedral dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, so even a short self-guided tour can be a fascinating insight into medieval history. The Tournai Museum of Fine Arts is greatly underrated and houses works by Rubens, Monet and Van Gogh. Thus, after sightseeing in Brussels, you can diversify your holiday and visit other cities in Belgium.
Even if you don't consider yourself a history buff, you've probably heard about the Battle of Waterloo. It was in this historic battle that Napoleon lost his final battle against the Duke of Wellington. Today you can visit the site of this epic defeat in 1815. The site is marked by an artificial hill and is known as Lion's Mound. Climb the steps to the top of the mound where there is a delightful lion sculpture. The observation deck offers a 360-degree view of the entire battlefield. On the weekend closest to the anniversary of the battle (June 18), large-scale reconstruction, which tens of thousands of spectators come to see. Waterloo is located just 30 km south of Brussels, making it an ideal day trip.
A two-hour train ride north of Brussels takes you to Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is a breathtaking city with incredible scenic beauty. Nicknamed the Venice of the North, Amsterdam has many canals that stretch throughout the city and far beyond its borders. If you come here for just one day, then it is better to spend it in medieval center cities. This part of Amsterdam is famous for the 17th-century Royal Palace, as well as the home of the legendary painter Rembrandt. Also don't miss the slightly touristy but undeniably beautiful floating flower market on the Singel Canal.
Dinant
Situated in the southwestern part of Belgium, Dinant is in the French-speaking region of Wallonia, just 90 minutes from Brussels. Dinant is located on the banks of the Meuse River, and among its main attractions is the striking Citadel of Dinant. The citadel was built in the 19th century on the coastal cliffs, offering breathtaking views. To get to the Citadel of Dinant, you will have to climb several hundred steps carved into the cliff, or take the cable car. Don't miss the chance to see the adjacent museum with medieval exhibits and interesting subjects art of the region. Dinant is included in the list of the most beautiful cities Belgium worth visiting.
A short 45-minute train or car journey north of Brussels takes you to Antwerp. This city is known as the center of trade and economy in Belgium. Antwerp has a thriving fashion and jewelry industry, but it also has plenty of cultural attractions. If you love art, then definitely take the time to visit the so-called Rubenshuis. The Baroque painter Rubens once lived in this house. Also don't miss the chance to visit the Antwerp Art Museum. To buy souvenirs, head to Meir, one of the most famous shopping destinations in all of Belgium.
Maastricht
To the east of Brussels is the Dutch region of Limburg, where the extremely interesting city of Maastricht is located. The city is a true melting pot of architectural styles and culture thanks to its location just a few kilometers from Germany and Belgium. While walking around Maastricht, you should definitely visit the two largest squares: Markt and Vrijthof. In addition to historical architecture and world-class museums, guests may be intrigued by the caves. These caves were created as a shelter in past centuries, and during the Second World War they hid here famous works art.
Luxembourg
Just two hours southeast of Brussels is Luxembourg. The capital Luxembourg is divided into different districts. If you are interested in medieval architecture, then you should concentrate on the High City, or Ville Haute. Be sure to visit the Bock, a series of natural fortifications built in the 10th century. They were designed to protect the city from invasion and have survived to this day. Those looking for something a little more contemporary will love the Grand-Duc Jean Museum of Contemporary Art, known to locals simply as MUDAM. Here you can find many outstanding works from famous contemporary masters.
Ghent
Just north of Brussels lies Ghent, a city with a unique blend of history and modern attractions. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the main center of Belgium, and this influence is clearly visible when walking around the city. Ghent is also famous for its beautiful 15th-century Ghent Altarpiece, or Van Eyck's painting entitled The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Today it's wonderful piece of art located in the Cathedral of St. Bavo. Ghent canal cruises are also incredibly popular. This great way see more of the city's attractions on a day trip from Brussels.
Bruges
Heading north-west from Brussels towards the North Sea, you'll reach Bruges in about one hour. Bruges is a beautiful Belgian city that has preserved most of your past charm. The city's largely pedestrianized historic center is best explored on foot. Bruges is surrounded by a circular canal, which makes it easy to navigate the city. The central square, Grote Markt, is home to the famous bell tower. You can climb to the top and be rewarded with amazing panoramic views to the city.
