A Guide to Brussels
A train ticket to Brussels or just a short flight will take you to the city that is in many ways the heartbeat of Europe. It is the home of the European parliament and a place where the old harmoniously rubs shoulders with the new, and where both the beer and the chocolate and the mussels and chips (or if you prefer, moules et frite) are legendary.
Brussels is a mixture of Flemish and French cultures and although there is not any overt antagonism between them, they tend to live quite separate lives. Belgium's tend to come over as ice cool and somewhat bohemian in outlook.
At the centre of the city is the Grand Place which is the ancient market place surrounded by medieval buildings including ornate guild houses and the great Town Hall. The surrounding streets are mainly cobbled and they are packed with restaurants and bars of every description and are where many tourists hang out. The area has a special atmosphere and often it has been described as one of the best city centres in Europe, though certainly not one of the more beautiful ones.
Brussels cannot compete with many other European cities for beauty, but it makes up for that with its fine museums and art galleries. At the Mus?es Royaux Des Beaux-Arts you will find examples of the best Flemish painters such as Bruegel, Van Dyck, and Rubens while at the Mus?e d'Art Moderne you will find the largest Magritte collection in the world along with works by Paul Delvaux, James Ensor and Leon Spilliaert. At the Mus?e Horta, which once was the home of the architect Victor Horta, there is a superb display of his Art Nouveau that dates from the late 19th century
Naturally you will want to discover a little more about Belgian beer and a great place to do so is at the Cantillon Brewery where Lambic beer is brewed. Lambic beer is fruity and yeast is not used in its fermentation; it has an acquired taste that does not take too long to acquire. Take a tour of the vast copper vats in which it is made and try out a few samples of the products.
Iconic of Brussels is the Atomium which was constructed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. It is 102 metres tall and consists of nine interconnected steel spheres that are in the form of atoms within a crystal of iron. The construction was a celebration of the local steel industry and the 18 meter wide spheres contain exhibitions and a restaurant from where there are superb views of the city.
Belgium is also famous for diamonds, and although the main city of diamonds is Antwerp, there are many outlets in Brussels where you can buy superb diamond jewellery at realistic prices. If you forget to bring one home as a gift, then you can make amends by visiting http://www.ice.co.uk.
Brussels is a mixture of Flemish and French cultures and although there is not any overt antagonism between them, they tend to live quite separate lives. Belgium's tend to come over as ice cool and somewhat bohemian in outlook.
At the centre of the city is the Grand Place which is the ancient market place surrounded by medieval buildings including ornate guild houses and the great Town Hall. The surrounding streets are mainly cobbled and they are packed with restaurants and bars of every description and are where many tourists hang out. The area has a special atmosphere and often it has been described as one of the best city centres in Europe, though certainly not one of the more beautiful ones.
Brussels cannot compete with many other European cities for beauty, but it makes up for that with its fine museums and art galleries. At the Mus?es Royaux Des Beaux-Arts you will find examples of the best Flemish painters such as Bruegel, Van Dyck, and Rubens while at the Mus?e d'Art Moderne you will find the largest Magritte collection in the world along with works by Paul Delvaux, James Ensor and Leon Spilliaert. At the Mus?e Horta, which once was the home of the architect Victor Horta, there is a superb display of his Art Nouveau that dates from the late 19th century
Naturally you will want to discover a little more about Belgian beer and a great place to do so is at the Cantillon Brewery where Lambic beer is brewed. Lambic beer is fruity and yeast is not used in its fermentation; it has an acquired taste that does not take too long to acquire. Take a tour of the vast copper vats in which it is made and try out a few samples of the products.
Iconic of Brussels is the Atomium which was constructed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. It is 102 metres tall and consists of nine interconnected steel spheres that are in the form of atoms within a crystal of iron. The construction was a celebration of the local steel industry and the 18 meter wide spheres contain exhibitions and a restaurant from where there are superb views of the city.
Belgium is also famous for diamonds, and although the main city of diamonds is Antwerp, there are many outlets in Brussels where you can buy superb diamond jewellery at realistic prices. If you forget to bring one home as a gift, then you can make amends by visiting http://www.ice.co.uk.
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