Brussels is a
city that everyone has heard about because it is Europe's administrative
center, but few are those who know something more about it and even fewer those
who would put it on the list of their next destinations!
I also belong
to this category, or I probably belonged until April 2013, when I visited
Brussels for the first time. And the reason I decided to make this trip was not
even what I had heard about Brussels (I had heard nothing!), Nor its famous and
well-known attractions (there are not many of them). It was just the very cheap
airfares combined with my general belief that every part of the world you
visit, however small or indifferent it may seems, leaves a sign to your soul.
I know you have
Brussels in your mind, like a cold, gray and dull city. Indeed, it is colder
than Athens, more gray than Barcelona and more boring than London. But there is
much more ... It is a multinational city, a friendly city, alive and at the
same time calm, as its people are. A city that smells chocolate and freshly
baked waffle in every corner, a city with one of Europe's tastiest cuisines!
And if I have
not yet convinced you that it is worth giving Brussels a chance, or if I have
done it, it is time to tell you what it is worth seeing while you are there.
Grand Place
The central
square of the city is at the same time its biggest attraction, and I dare say
one of the most beautiful squares I've ever seen in my life. Surrounded by
imposing buildings, the most impressive of which is the Brussels Town Hall,
which stands out from its Gothic tower, which is almost 100 meters high. There
is also there the famous Maison du Cygne, with the stunning views, where Marx
used to drink his coffee.
Manneken Pis
The next
largest and at the same time the tiniest attraction in Brussels is the Manneken
Pis. It is a bronze statue that represents a boy to pee, and is in the same
place since 1619! Now the statue has its feminine version, Jeanneke Pis but
also the dog, Het Zinneke, all located in different parts of the city.
Tin-Tin
The Belgians
take their comic book history very seriously, and they call it ninth art. While
they have an entire museum, the Center Belge de la Bande Dessinée dedicated to
these and it is perfectly reasonable since Lucky Luke, Smurfs and Tin-Tin were
born here. There is no need to go to this particular museum to see Tin-Tin
since you can meet him in the frescoes around the city, such as Gare du Midi
Station and Stockel Metro Station. Altogether, there are more than 40 frescoes
with famous comic characters in Brussels, with the most famous of course being
Tin-Tin.
The Sunday
Market in Gare du Midi
There is no way
to visit a city and not go through at least one local market. If you happen to
be in Brussels on Sunday, you have to take a stroll up to the Gare du Midi.
Multiculturalism in all its grandeur. Colorful stalls, and people from all over
the world, spices from Africa, olives from Spain, cheeses from France, food
from Morocco. It is the largest outdoor market in the world where you can find
clothes and home supplies up to flowers, fruits and food from any part of the
world you can imagine.
Palais Royal
Did you know
that Belgium has a king? The royal palace of Brussels, located in the center of
the city in front of the Brussels Park, is the official palace of the King and
Queen of the Belgians, but they no longer reside in it, but in the Laeken
castle, just outside the Brussels. It was originally built to be used as a
castle at the end of the 11th century, but it became a palace along the way,
and since 1900 it has the form we see to this day.
Mont des Arts
The Mont des
Arts, or the hill of the arts, is a garden surrounded by various museums such
as the Musée des Musées, the Center de Fine Arts Bozar and the Musée Magritte.
It was in the late 19th century when King Leopold II wanted to beautifully
siding his palace. It is the place that offers the best views of the city of
Brussels, from where you can see the tower of the town hall at Grand Place, the
statue of King Albert II, and the Sacred Heart Basilica with its green dome.
Cathedral
of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Cathedral
of St. Michael and St. Gudula has been the central cathedral of the city since
1962. The temple is Gothic style with impressive statues, while its windows are
decorated with beautiful stained glass. The temple is built on a Roman chapel
of the 11th century, the ruins of which are visible from the crypt of the
temple. All royal weddings take place here, as well as many concerts throughout
the year.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
The Parc du
Cinquantenaire (50th Anniversary Park) is a large park in the European Quarter,
centered around the 50-year-old arch designed for the 1880 National Exhibition
to commemorate Belgium's 50th anniversary. Around the park are three museums,
the Royal Museums of the Armed Forces, the Royal Museums of Art and History and
AutoWorld, as well as a mosque.
Galeries
Royales Saint-Hubert
Galeries
Royales Saint-Hubert, with its impressive glass dome, is the world's first
shopping mall. It was built in 1847 and possibly inspired other commercial
galleries such as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. May the shops
here be more expensive than what you will find elsewhere in Brussels, but it is
worth visiting at least one of those who sell chocolates.
Chocolates,
Waffles, Potatoes and Beers
Belgian
cuisine is one of my favorites so I have to present it to you in a separate
post. I will tell you here in a few words, however, what is necessary to taste
as long as you are in Brussels.
First of
all chocolates. It is no coincidence that Belgium is world-famous for its
chocolates. On your walks in the city you will find many shops produce and selling
chocolates. Comptoir de Mathilde, Neuhaus and Pierre Marcolini are some of the
bests.
In addition
to their chocolate, the Belgians are also famous for the best waffles in the
world! What waffle though? Brussels Waffle and waffle Liège? I prefer the
second one (but you have to eat both to get to your own favorite). Maison
Dandoy and the Waffle Factory are my favorite waffle shops in Brussels.
Another
reason why Belgium is famous is french fries. And you will tell me, okay fries
are fries, what' s different about them? And yet they are! They are fried in
meat fat and combined with many different sauces. The best fried potatoes are
served at Maison Antoine and Fritland.
And finally
the beers. What to say about belgian beers ... You may have heard much more
about German or Czech ones, but Belgium is the country with the more beer
varieties in the world (about 300), while in this small country exist 8,700
beer brands! More than 2000 of these brands can be tasted at Delirium TapHouse.
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