Top Ten Destination Attractions in Brussels and
Landmarks in Belgium
Grand Place
La Grand-Place
in Brussels is a remarkably homogeneous body of public and private
buildings,
dating mainly from the late 17th century. 'One of the most beautiful
town
squares in Europe, if not in the world', is a phrase often heard when
visitors
in Brussels try to describe the beauty of the central market square.
Brussels Grand
Place is classified world inheritance of humanity by UNESCO since
December 1998.
Saint Hubert
Galleries
The Galleries Saint-Hubert, the first that were
built in Europe in 1846,
feature luxury shops and cafés, a cinema and a theatre. They
provide a link
between the surroundings of the Town Hall Square and the National
Opera. Busts
and statues decorate the interior. The statues are counterparts of
those that
are outside. However, close to the clock, there are allegorical statues
representing Belgium, the Brabant and the Town of Brussels.
Bruxelles Sablon Antique Square
The Sablon
district provides a year-round ambience, thanks to the numerous antique
shops
and art galleries that are located there but also thanks to inviting
cafes,
restaurants and terraces, where you can take a break. The Sablon square
is also
world renowned for its weekend antique market held at the Place du
Grand Sablon
on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays from 9:00 am to 1:00
pm. Don't
miss it, it's a must see!
Royal Palace
In 1830,
Belgium became independent and the king of Belgium, Leopold I, decided
to use
the new palace as his residence. It was king Leopold II, who had the
original
building turned into the palace like we now know it. Today, the Royal
Palace,
built near the Brussels Park, plays a mainly ceremonial role. It is
used for
state receptions, royal audiences and court ceremonies. The King and
Queen
reside in a palace just outside town, the Palace of Laeken. Open to the
public
mid-July to the beginning of September.
Saint-Michel Cathedral
The Gothic
cathedral of Saint Michael is known to local residents as Sainte-Gudule
(an
apocryphal saint). Because of its growing importance, the first St.
Gudule
church originally built in Romanesque style was transformed in gothic
style as
from the 13th century. Today, the foundations of the first church can
still be
seen under the crypt of the gothic cathedral.
Basilica of the Holy Heart
Construction of the building was started in 1905 and was not finished until 1970 with the construction of a dome and dedicated to the war victories of 1918 and 1944. The interior decoration is in 1930's Art Deco style with use of marble. At Koekelberg, the Basilica dominates Brussels from a hill at the westernmost part of town. Since March 1997 visitors can climb into the dome of the Basilica from where one can have a beautiful panorama over Brussels and its surrounding area.
Atomium
From 1958, this
monument has become the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. The Atomium is the
visual
representation of the concept of an "atom". It symbolizes an
elementary iron crystal with its 9 atoms and magnified 150 billion
times. It
honoured the metal and iron industry and the belief in the atomic
power. The
architect was André WATERKEYN. The monument is coated with
aluminium, weighs
2.400 tons and is 102 meters high. Each sphere has a diameter of 18
meters.
After more than a year of renovation work, the Atomium has a new face.
In the
upper sphere, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Heysel area and (if
the
weather is good) the city of Brussels.
Horta Museum
This is not a
museum in the traditional sense; the museum itself is actually the
house that
Victor Horta built for himself in the late 1890s, which truly
exemplifies the
art nouveau style that made Horta into one of the most acclaimed
architects in
Belgium.
Manneken Pis:
Nicknamed
"Brussels' Oldest Citizen", this bronze statue of a little boy and a
fountain was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619 and has become a
familiar
symbol of the city.
European
Parliament
