Walking Through Brussels

Oh, Brussels! This week we reach the Belgian capital. A wealth of history, wonderful places and art all the way. The Baroque architecture impressed me so much, you can spend hours on the streets full of charm and discover an impressive number of statues, parks and churches. The smell of chocolate is everywhere and that’s what makes every walk even more enjoyable!

There are so many things to see in Brussels but fortunately it is very easy to see them step by step. I tried to put them in random order because they all worth seeing, tried and tasted!

1. Grand Place
   It’s the central square of Brussels. Europe’s most beautiful square. Measuring at 68 x 110 meters, it is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, and even declared as Europe’s most beautiful square in 2010. Incredible surrounding architecture. The square it is dominated by the Royal House, the Town Hall and the medieval guildhalls. The most prominent structure is the towering (315 feet) City Hall built back in the Middle Ages that somehow looks like a Gothic church. The foundation stone was laid in the spring of 1402 and was completed in 1450 when a statue of St. Michael defeating a Dragon was put on the top of the tower. The original statue remained on the top until June 1996 when it was replaced with a new one.
   The legend says that the architect suicides by throwing himself from the building when he found out that the tower is not right in the middle of the building.
   Grand Place is distinguished by its distinctive Flemish architecture. Here you can watch outdoor concerts and relax on a terrace.
   Every two years in August, the square is filled with a huge flower carpet that stays up for a few days. It is composed of colorful begonias arranged in distinct decorative patterns.
2.  St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral. Gothic-style cathedral, 8 centuries old, it is the most important cult site in Brussels. Here are taking place a lot of important events of the Royal House of Belgium. The construction of the Cathedral began in the 13th century and was completed in the 17th century. The interior of the holy place is very impressive. Stained glasses clearly emphasize the late Gothic style allowing the penetration of the light in abundance and depicts the most prominent Belgian rulers.
3. Notre Dame Du Sablon
   This spectacular Gothic cathedral began life in the 14th Century when it was used as a chapel by the Archer’s Guild. It was extensively expanded in the next century to the popularity and supposed healing powers of the Madonna statue located within. The statue was allegedly stolen by a husband and wife team of thieves in a rowing boat. The location of the statue is unknown but the story is commemorated by a Lifesize model inside the building.
4.  Palais Royal
   Although the royal family of Belgium now spend their lives at Laeken, the Royal Palace in Brussels remains as their official residence. The palace is open for tourists in the summer months. It is a stately building and it worth to be visited.
5. Manneken Pis
   This odd statue has risen to fame and is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The name simply translates to “little man pee” and it has been given this name for obvious reasons.
   Everything comes from a historical act. A child saved Brussels from destruction. In the 17th century at one point the Dutch wanted to fire the Citadel. When they burned the wick a lost little boy who was left outside the city urinated on the wick and so remained famous. Another legend says that this child gets lost and when his father, a very rich man, found him he was in that position. He has an impressive wardrobe of over 750 suits that are kept in the King’s house in the Grand Place.
   Try to see the girl version, Jeanneke Pis, that is located in Impasse de la Fidélité. It was Erected in 1987.
6. 
7. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
   I fell in love at first sight with the architecture in this shopping arcade, and I especially liked its beautifully vaulted glass ceilings. Apparently, this is Europe’s first covered shopping gallery since it was built in 1847 — with this fact, it clearly precedes the other famous 19th-century shopping arcades such as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.
   The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is split up into three magnificent halls – the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery, and the Prince’s Gallery – and provides a lush setting for a good window shop.
8.  Mont des Arts
   Translated to “Mountain of Arts,” the hillside close to Brussels Central Station is a prominent Leopold II legacy. He dreamed of seeing a sophisticated cultural nucleus outside of his Royal Palace ‘s windows, a wish that has led to a beautiful slope-garden, followed up by a generous smattering of prestigious museums like Magritte Museum, and cultural temples (Cinematek, Bozar).
9. Magritte Museum
   The Magritte Museum on the Mont des Arts boasts essential works such as Empire of Light and Scheherazade. Just gorgeous! Everyone is free to visit and admire it!
10. Musical Instruments Museum
    For the music lovers and not only. The impressive building houses an internationally renowned collection of 7,000 instruments and has a lovely rooftop patio where you can relax for the rest of the day!
11. Atomium
    The sculpture was made in 1958 to welcome a new and atomic age to Belgium and is an accurate depiction of an iron molecule except that it is about 165 billion times larger! The atom is 102 m tall and weighs 2400 tons. It was designed by Andre Waterkeyn. The glass roofed elevator takes guests to the top in a time of only 20 seconds, there they can enjoy a beer and snack before descending.
12. European Parliament
    In one of my visits to Brussels I had the opportunity to go to the European Parliament. I was happy to learn more about its work and how I can actively participate in a better functioning of society.
13. Belgian Beer
    The only place I drank beer and liked it. Personally, do not like beer but Belgians have shown that there is one beer for everyone’s taste. Here I started to drink beer because I could choose from more than 800 kinds of assortments. Beer has played a very important role in the history of this city. You find bars on all streets wherever it deserves to sit for enjoying the scenery and a good beer. On average each inhabitant drinks 84 L of beer per year. In the country there are 180 breweries from large beer factories such as Stella Artois to microbes. Paradise of beer!
14.  Chocolate!!!
    You know you’re in Belgium when you smell chocolate at every step. Brussels is full of chocolate stores, chocolate factories, chocolate all over, you cannot abstain and you don’t have to. It is wonderful! Another delight you have to try next to chocolate are waffles. You have to find a place where they prepare them fresh and enjoy a warm waffle with chocolate topping. An explosion of sensations for taste buds!
15.  Belgian Fries
    For those who do not love chocolate although it is very hard for me to think so we have Belgian fries! They are delicious and you can choose from a variety of sauces. Enjoy!

Brussels is a great place for a City Break, a place where you enjoy everywhere, a place where you smell chocolate on the streets, a place where you can fond a chic bar to enjoy a good beer!