Here I tell you everything you need to know about Belgium, the country of chocolate and beer with much more to see ...
Some believe that there are not so many attractions to know next to powers like Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam and they take it into account only in passing when visiting the area. Nevertheless, I can affirm that Belgium It deserves to make an exclusive trip to go deeper because it has an immeasurable wealth in relics that remain almost intact, also its mixture of cultures makes it a very attractive place to discover…
Known in the world for being the headquarters of the European Union located in its capital, Brussels where its greatest heritage is found in museums and works of art. With a variety of languages throughout the country, like flamenco, French and German influenced by neighboring countries and their closeness. The climate is temperate maritime, mild winters and mild summers with significant rainfall throughout the year. Temperatures range from 3ºC on average in winter to 23ºC on average in summer, motif that allows to see Belgium in any season.
I will focus on detailing the attractions of its capital, Brussels Although it has other charming cities such as Witches, Ghent or Antwerp in case you have more time. Witches, It is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world where you can go for the day with a private transfer or an organized excursion as well as on your own and you can stay 1 night to enjoy the city at all hours. Its canals at sunset deserve several photos and are worth seeing…
Other recommended cities are Ghent and Antwerp, picturesque and very culturally rich as well as Witches where you can see its buildings from the Middle Ages, as well as the rhythm of today.
How to get:
To get to the city they can do it by plane, to the International Airport of Brussels or also called Zaventem which is located 14 km away from the center. It is easy to get to the capital because there are several options or, in private transfer, by train or bus, as well as by taxi.
There is another airport that is somewhat further away, It is called Charleroi where low cost companies operate and it is an alternative to get to the city for good prices, it is located in the Brussels-south area 55 km away from the center, with private transfers or shuttle bus available.
It is also possible to travel to the capital by train or bus from any other European city in the area such as Amsterdam The Paris or by private car. It is a very well connected destination which allows you to have several options when choosing according to the time and budget you have.
Brussels:
It has a mixture of the old and the modern with more than 80 museums that coexist in the center of the city, the buildings stand out for their varied architecture with medieval styles such as the Grand Palace or the avant-garde building of the European Union and some of the Flemish or Neo-Baroque style.
To move around, the best option is to walk and thus be able to see every corner of the Belgian city, although if you do not want to walk a lot the next option is the bicycle since, there are some places with pedestrian zones that can be reached more easily, although there is also public transport.
Places to visit in Brussels:
1- Manneken Pis:
Bronze fountain with a peeing boy, Although it seems strange, it has become a modern identifying symbol for the inhabitants of the city. It is located in the historic center, has a collection of costumes that are on display at the Museum of the City of Brussels, They are used to disguise it on the occasion of different celebrations, those in charge of doing it are the "Friends of Manneken Pis" a non-profit association that manages the occasions that are accompanied by a music band and a ceremony in which the water jet is connected again as a result of the pressure splashes the public that enjoys and participates enthusiastically in the tradition. The perfect souvenir from this city is the miniature of the Manneken Pis made of chocolate or metal.
2- Atomium:
It is a modern monument built for the Expo of 1958 that has 103 meters high and 9 spheres of 18 meters in diameter each una connected by tubes with escalators, these represent the 9 Belgian provinces. El material que se utilizó para its construction was steel and aluminum. It rests on 3 large towers that act as pillars and represents an enlarged atom 165.000 million times. At the time it was planned that he would remain for 6 months on display, However, quickly became a tourist attraction. Diseñada por el ingeniero André Waterkeyn y los arquitectos André y Jean Polak. It is located in the park of Heysel a 6 km from the historic center of Brussels, se puede get there by taking a walk 1 hour approximately or by public transport in 30 minutes, in the same area is the Parque Mini- Europe, el Planetario de Bruselas y la Expo. If you are going to enter the venue to climb to the top of the monument, it is important to know that there are long queues, así como también entradas que se combinan con el Parque Mini-Europe. It is also worth seeing it at night as it is impressive when illuminated.
3- Grand Place of Brussels:
Beautiful cobbled square where the Town Hall is located and several 16th century buildings among them, the city museum, which were rebuilt after a bombing in 1695 produced by the french army. Declared in 1998 UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3.1- City hall: It is a medieval building in Brabantine Gothic style, It dates from the 15th century when Belgium enjoyed economic prosperity, which explains the sumptuousness of its civil buildings and homes.. The building is asymmetrical in shape as a result of the scattered modifications that were made over the years and due to space limitations.. The façade is decorated with numerous statues representing nobles, saints and allegorical figures. The original sculptures are currently in the City Museum for better conservation. It did not always fulfill the function of City Hall, but had different destinies in history, during World War I it served as a makeshift hospital, during the Belgian Revolution it was the seat of government and in 1914 it was occupied by the Imperial German Navy. It was finally named a historical monument in 1936.
3.1- Brussels City Museum: It is located right in front of the Town Hall, formerly called Maison du Roi or House of the King that today houses the Municipal Museum of Brussels, It is a baroque-style house that was originally the home of the bakers' guild. After the bombardment of the French troops, the house was rebuilt and began to be used as the administrative office of the Duke of Brabant, hence it is known as Casa del Rey.. The origin of the Museum is from 1887, when you begin to collect the information and objects of the history of Brussels. It is dedicated to exposing the heritage and history of the city as well as its urban development.
4- Royal Palace:
It is the official palace of the Belgian kings, current seat of the monarchy where the King performs his duties as Head of State, in it are installed the offices of the kings, some ministries, meeting rooms and guest rooms for heads of state. It has been no longer used as a royal residence for more than a century, the King lives with his family in the Royal Castle of Laeken on the outskirts of the city.
The Palace is located south of the Royal Park, in the upper part of the city in front is the Federal Palace of Belgium, these 2 buildings represent the government of Belgium which is the constitutional monarchy. Since 1965 opened to the public, can be visited during the summer when the king is not in the palace, from july to september. You can access some rooms of the Palace and exhibitions that are held there.
In a protocol and traditional way, when the King is in the palace, the inhabitants are notified by raising the flag of Belgium.
5- Mini-Europe:
It is a park that houses the exhibition of models of 80 European cities made to scale with more than 350 buildings and monuments known as the Grand Place in Brussels, stand out for their quality with costs of €300,000 per model and up to 20.000 working hours invested.
It is located next to the Atomium monument, in Bruparck and was inaugurated in 1989, occupies an area of 24.000 square meters built with an initial investment of 10 millions of euros. The built monuments were chosen for the exhibition based on their architectural quality that entails a greater challenge or because of their symbolic character for Europe.. Many of the monuments have been financed by the countries and regions of Europe.
The monuments are surrounded by gardens with a variety of traditional flowers and shrubs to brighten up the walk. More than 350.000 visitors per year, It is one of the main attractions of Brussels. Ideal for families with children and schools as they also have educational activities backed by the European Commission and Parliament to publicize through games, the common market and the functioning of the institutions. There is a guide-catalogue that is given to each adult at the entrance that tells all the anecdotes, each region and each building detailed in addition an exercise book on the functioning of Europe and is in several languages. The visit can last from 2 a 3 hours.
6- chocolate and beer:
The passion for cocoa can be found in any corner of the Belgian city, pioneers in the invention of chocolates. Some of the major stores are: Godiva, Nehaus, Pierre Marcolini, Leonidas. Tasting a typical beer from there such as "Lambic" with factories dating from the 1900 and breweries that have the largest variety of beers in the world such as Cantillon, a family brewery or Delirium.
In summary, to visit Belgium will enrich the senses of each one in its path, they will be able to see and learn about the art that emerges in harmony with their culture and history through characters known worldwide such as Tintin and the Smurfs, a country that demonstrates its identity supported by the symbol given off by the Manneken Pis or the Atomium. With great building wealth and a great European reference that represents the European Union in the world.
A very interesting and complete destination in all aspects.
Daiam I.
12/02/2020