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The Kingdom of Belgium is called the heart of Europe. Here, every tourist will find something to their liking: you can see numerous architectural monuments, get acquainted with museum expositions and modern culture, enjoy stunning natural views and taste local symbols.
Who should come to Belgium and why?
For lovers of sedate and measured rest, Belgium is one of the best places. Here you can walk along the narrow ancient streets, look at marvelous castles, palaces and other equally interesting architectural structures. There are many original museums and exhibitions, plus you can visit events dedicated to comics, beer or, say, chocolate products.
In this country, you will have a unique opportunity to visit wellness treatments that promote relaxation and improve your general condition. Local waters are extremely useful, and Spa fans simply need to come here. After all, modern spa services got their name from the small Belgian town of Spa with its thermal springs.
Every weekend during the warm season, festivals are held in the Kingdom dedicated to various topics: jazz, folklore, sand sculptures, modern art movements, fireworks, various food products. At such events, it will be interesting for both family tourists and young people. If you want the trip to be especially memorable, you can time it to major holidays or events: Christmas, Easter, New Year, Spring and Labor Day.
Fans of speed and extreme driving will be interested in the Spa-Francorchamps track, built back in the 20s of the twentieth century, which has undergone reconstruction and modernization in recent years. It is one of the fastest and most unpredictable tracks in the world.
Architectural and cultural monuments of Belgium
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
It is considered one of the most significant cathedrals in Brussels and is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The monumental building, over 60 meters high, is decorated with vintage stained-glass windows created in the 16th century and stairs leading to the terrace. It offers an amazing view of the city.
Funerals of famous state officials of the kingdom and solemn marriage ceremonies were held here. And if you come to the Cathedral on a day off, you can get to a concert of organ music.
Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle
This church is located on one of the central squares in Brussels, and the time of its construction dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. The top of the temple is decorated with a bell tower, made in the style of Romanesque Gothic. The interior decoration amazes even sophisticated tourists: multi-colored stained-glass windows, stunning statues, church vaults.
The piece of the Crucifixion of Christ located here has made this shrine a popular place for pilgrims from all over the world. Here you can also see the grave of the famous Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel and the font, created in the 15th century.
Sterkshof Castle
A magnificent castle with a huge picturesque park is located in Antwerp. It was built on the site of a small farm in the 16th century. Then its territory was surrounded by a moat with water, reliably protecting the walls of the castle from enemies. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was transferred to the municipality of Antwerp, which expanded the park area and moved the Museum of Flemish History to the castle.
Dinan Citadel
There is an impregnable fortress in Dinan on a hundred-meter cliff. The estimated time of construction is the 4th century. For many centuries of existence, the citadel has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. There are dozens of secret passages and underground caves in the fortress. You can climb the rock using the funicular or along the steps of a long staircase.
Royal Palace
It was built on Palace Square and is the official residence of the current monarch. It is a complex made up of several mansions. The Royal Palace hosts official receptions, festive concerts and meetings of foreign delegations.
In summer, the building is visited by excursion groups, examining the halls and the decoration of the rooms. One of the mansions houses a historical museum. Until that time, there was a chic hotel for celebrities.
Atomium
It is an iron molecule with a height of more than 100 meters. The construction was created in 1958 and timed to coincide with the opening of the Expo. The model symbolizes the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
Inside the «molecule» there are corridors and a high-speed elevator leading to the observation deck and the restaurant. Also on the territory there is an exposition dedicated to developments in the field of nuclear energy.
Initially, the monument was supposed to stand for a short time and be demolished at the end of the exhibition. But for more than half a century it has been showing the scientific development of the country and the peaceful power of the atom.
Embankment Grasley
The embankment in Ghent looks like a living illustration from a book on the history of architecture. It contains buildings dating from the 12th-19th centuries. They are created in a variety of styles: Gothic, Baroque, Classicism, Renaissance. Tourists like to take a leisurely walk along this embankment, feed the seagulls, admiring the sea views, or ride on tourist boats.
Liège-Guillemins train station
Building made of glass and steel, erected in 2009 in Liege. The author of this work of art is the architect Santiago Calatrava, who specializes in the creation of extraordinary structures.
The station attracts attention even from a distance with its bright curved roof made of bulletproof glass protected from ultraviolet radiation. A feature of the structure is that even with severe damage, the glass roof will not crumble, but will be securely held by a special film.
The most interesting places in Belgium
Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo
In the small town of Waterloo, there is a circular panorama dedicated to the final battle of Napoleon I. It is an artistic canvas created by Louis Desmoulins. The height of the painting is 12 meters, the length is about 100. You can look through the composition for hours, discovering new, previously unnoticed details.
The exposition is complemented by the sound effects of the battle: the noise of guns, the commands of military leaders, the conversations of soldiers. The panorama is open all year round. Her visit will be remembered not only by history lovers, but also by those who just want to learn something new.
Verne town
The city was founded in the 9th century, and its popularity in the tourist environment is due to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages and solitude that has been preserved here. Most of the sights are gathered on the central square: the Town Hall and the Palace of Justice are real works of art.
Also, there are various buildings erected by professional guilds and decorated with images of birds and animals. Here is one of the oldest churches in Belgium — St. Walpurgis, built in the same IX century.
Royal Opera House La Monnet
The building is located half a kilometer from the main square of Brussels. It was erected at the end of the 17th century, and the theater hall is designed for 1150 seats. In 2011, La Monnaie was named one of the best opera houses. Marius Petipa performed here and productions of such eminent figures as Maurice Béjart were staged.
Rubens House
Rubenshuis is considered one of the most important museums in Belgium, because it was here that the artist Peter Rubens lived, creating his immortal creations. After his death, more than 300 paintings, sculptures, jewelry and valuable statuettes were found in the house.
In the late 30s of the twentieth century, the house was bought by the administration of Antwerp and turned into a museum. Authentic interior items from the time of Rubens and his canvases made it possible to preserve the atmosphere of that time.
Chocolate Museum
This place is a must visit for all sweet lovers. The museum is located on the central square of Brussels, and you can include a visit to it in your walks through the city streets. It was created by one of the representatives of the family of the famous confectioner Pierre Draps.
Having visited the exposition, you will learn about the technology and intricacies of preparing everyone’s favorite treat, try handmade sweets and buy real Belgian chocolate.
Butcher Street
This popular tourist route runs along one of the central streets of Brussels. In the 17th century, there were butchers and sausage shops on it, so it was one of the dirtiest and most stinking places in the city.
The buildings located on this street are decorated with ancient pediments and interesting sculptures. Particular attention is drawn to the amusing monument to the “Peeing Girl” and the “Spitting Girl” fountain.
Museum of Costume and Lace
Brussels lace is known far beyond the borders of the country. Such products were created for a long time and painstakingly, they were prohibitively expensive, so only the richest representatives of the Flemish nobility could afford them.
In the museum you can see an old collection of lace products and vintage costumes. The attraction is located in the immediate vicinity of the Manneken Pis fountain.
Parks and natural attractions in Belgium
lake of love
Located in the park of the town of Bruges. The colorful lake used to be a river that flooded nearby houses and streets. After the installation of the dam and locks, it turned into a small picturesque lake. On it you can take boat trips and catamarans, watching the swimming swans.
The lake is especially popular with lovers and photographers. On its shore there are several buildings in the Gothic style and a small stone bridge, where couples confess their love to each other.
Park Mini Europe
It is an open-air exhibition of miniature European monuments. Also, there is a huge collection of figurines of people, animals, vehicles, driven by electricity.
By pressing a few buttons next to the models, tourists can see the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a volcanic eruption, rotating windmills, and sailboats entering the port. All exhibit items are allowed to be touched. During the summer months, fireworks are held in the park on weekends.
Walibi Park
Walibi is located in Wavre and includes an amusement park and a water park. Holidays here will appeal not only to young visitors, but also to their parents. Everyone can find something to their liking here: from roller coasters to a pool with artificial waves and real green vegetation.
It will be great to get here on Halloween — the impressions you get will last you for many years. During the summer, the park is open on weekends until 11pm. It often hosts a variety of themed shows and fireworks.
Botanical Garden
It is a favorite place for walking and relaxing for the inhabitants of Brussels. One of the main details of the garden is a round greenhouse, decorated with sculptures from local craftsmen. Citizens often gather here, arrange picnics and cultural events.
Bobbeyanland park
Its founder is Bobbeyan Schupen, a former popular Belgian singer who invested his personal funds in the opening of the park. There are more than 40 attractions for children, youth and adults. And on the territory of Bobbeyanland there are points with souvenirs and cozy cafes.
Piri Daiza Zoo
The zoo is located in the province of Hainaut, and its total area is 65 hectares. This is one of the few zoos where pandas are kept. However, the total number of different species of animals here reaches 5000.
The territory is divided into thematic sectors, complemented by various sculptures and exotic structures: for example, Chinese temples or statues of African culture. And here you can take a walk in the Rose Garden, enjoying the gorgeous view and the aroma of the queen of flowers.
Aquarium Ostend
The main inhabitants of the sea base in Ostend are shrimp, lobsters, crabs and shellfish. The aquarium is a huge glass showcase where everyone can admire the marine inhabitants of the North Seas.
In other rooms, you can learn about the history of sea creatures, educational information related to environmental issues, and look at casts of shells of prehistoric mollusks.
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