travel brussels
(including out day tour of Waterloo, Bruges, Gent)
GENERAL INFORMATION-Brussels officially the Brussels-Capital Region is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by a descendant of Charlemagne to a sizeable city. The city has a population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan area with a population of over 1.8 million, both of them the largest in Belgium. Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a principal centre for international politics. Hosting principal European Union institutions and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the city has become the polyglot home of numerous international organizations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels has seen a major shift to French since Belgian independence in 1830. Today, although the majority language is French, the city is officially bilingual. All road signs, street names and many adverts and services are shown in both languages. Linguistic tensions remain and the language laws regarding some municipalities surrounding Brussels are an issue of considerable controversy in Belgium. Serving as the centre of administration for Europe, Brussels' economy is largely service-oriented. It is dominated by regional and world headquarters of multinationals, by European institutions, by various administrations, and by related services, though it does have a number of notable craft industries.
HISTORY-The origine of the settlement that became Brussels, lies in Saint Gaugericus' construction of a chapel on an island in the river Senne around 580AD. The official founding of Brussels is situated around 979AD, when Duke Charles of Lower Lotharingia transferred the relics of Saint Gudula from Moorsel to the Saint Gaugericus chapel.. Charles would construct the first permanent fortification in the city, doing so on that same island. Lambert I of Leuven, Count of Leuven gained the County of Brussels around 1000AD by marrying Charles' daughter. Because of its location on the shores of the Senne on an important trade route between Bruges and Ghent and Cologne, Brussels grew quite quickly, it became a commercial centre that rapidly extended towards the upper town. As it grew to a population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion. After the construction of the city walls in the early 13th century, Brussels grew significantly. To let the city expand, a second set of walls was erected between 1356 and 1383. The city was captured by France in 1746 during the War of the Austrian Succession but was handed back to Austria three years later. Brussels remained with Austria until 1795, when the Southern Netherlands was captured and annexed by France. It remained a part of France until 1815, when it joined the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Brussels became the capital and seat of government of the new nation. On 21 July 1831, Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, ascended the throne, undertaking the destruction of the city walls and the construction of many buildings. Following independence, the city underwent many more changes. The Senne had become a serious health hazard, and from 1867 to 1871 its entire course through the urban area was completely covered over. This allowed urban renewal and the construction of modern buildings and boulevards characteristic of downtown Brussels today. During World War I, Brussels was an occupied city, but German troops did not cause much damage. In World War II the city was again occupied and was spared major damage during its occupation by German forces before it was liberated by the British Guards Armoured Division.
GEOGRAPHY- It is located in the valley of the Senne River, a small tributary of the Schelde . Greater Brussels is the country’s largest urban agglomeration. It consists of 19 communes, or municipalities, each with a large measure of administrative autonomy. The largest commune—which, like the greater metropolitan area, is named Brussels,contains the historic core of the city and the so-called “European Quarter,” where the institutions of the European Union (EU) are located.
AREA- 161.38 KM2
POPULATION- 11, 38,854
CO-ORDINATES- 50°51′0″N 4°21′0″E
TIME ZONE- UTC +1 Summer UTC +2
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows -
POPULATION- 11, 38,854
CO-ORDINATES- 50°51′0″N 4°21′0″E
TIME ZONE- UTC +1 Summer UTC +2
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows -
TEMP JAN FEB MAR APRL MAR JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MAX 6 7 10 14 18 21 23 23 19 15 10 6
MIN 0.7 0.7 3 5 9 12 14 14 11 8 4 2
MAX 6 7 10 14 18 21 23 23 19 15 10 6
MIN 0.7 0.7 3 5 9 12 14 14 11 8 4 2
AIRPORT-Brussels International Airport is located approximately 11km north-east of the city. It is partially located in Zaventem and Diegem regions. The airport is being operated by the Brussels Airport Company (earlier called Brussels International Airport Company).
The airport was inaugurated in July 1958. A new cargo terminal was constructed in 1976. In 1994, a new terminal was constructed adjacent to the existing terminal which was built in 1958.
The airport acts as a hub for domestic and international airlines such as Brussels Airlines, European Air Transport, Jet Airways, Singapore Airlines Cargo and Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo. It handled 18.9m passengers and 459,265tons of cargo in 2012. The number of aircraft movements recorded during the year was 223,431. Brussels International Airport currently has a single terminal building. Level 0 of the terminal features self-service baggage lockers. Level 1 of the terminal building has baby changing rooms, coin-operated luggage lockers and art exhibitions. The arrival and departure areas are located on levels 2 and 3 respectively. The arrival hall features information desks, a baggage claim area, a post office, a currency exchange, gift shops, eateries and ATM centres. Conference facilities, which can accommodate 1,500 people, are located in the sky hall reception room in the arrivals hall. The departure hall features two concourses A and B. Duty-free shops and information desks are at both the concourses. The terminal has fax machines, data ports and vending machines. Wi Fi is also available at the terminal, but the service is charged. The terminal has a large duty free outlet and a storage area to accommodate heavy luggage.
The airport was inaugurated in July 1958. A new cargo terminal was constructed in 1976. In 1994, a new terminal was constructed adjacent to the existing terminal which was built in 1958.
The airport acts as a hub for domestic and international airlines such as Brussels Airlines, European Air Transport, Jet Airways, Singapore Airlines Cargo and Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo. It handled 18.9m passengers and 459,265tons of cargo in 2012. The number of aircraft movements recorded during the year was 223,431. Brussels International Airport currently has a single terminal building. Level 0 of the terminal features self-service baggage lockers. Level 1 of the terminal building has baby changing rooms, coin-operated luggage lockers and art exhibitions. The arrival and departure areas are located on levels 2 and 3 respectively. The arrival hall features information desks, a baggage claim area, a post office, a currency exchange, gift shops, eateries and ATM centres. Conference facilities, which can accommodate 1,500 people, are located in the sky hall reception room in the arrivals hall. The departure hall features two concourses A and B. Duty-free shops and information desks are at both the concourses. The terminal has fax machines, data ports and vending machines. Wi Fi is also available at the terminal, but the service is charged. The terminal has a large duty free outlet and a storage area to accommodate heavy luggage.
BRUSSELS SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS –
001-GRAND PLACE-In the 10th century, Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine constructed a fort on Saint-Géry Island, the farthest inland point at which the Senne River was navigable. This was the start of what would become Brussels. At the end of the 11th century, an open-air marketplace was set up on a dried-up marsh, near the fort on Saint Grey Island that was surrounded by sandbanks. The market was called the Nedermerckt, or Lower Market. The market’s present name “Grand Place” came into use in the last quarter of the 18th century.Improvements to the Grand Place from the 14th century onwards would mark the rise in importance of local merchants and tradesmen relative to the nobility. The city expropriated and demolished a number of buildings that clogged the Grand Place and formally defined the edges of the square .The Brussels City Hall was built on the south side of the square in stages between 1401 and 1455, and made the Grand Place the seat of municipal power. It towers 315 feet high and is capped by a 12 feet statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon. To counter this symbol of municipal power, from 1504 to 1536 the Duke of Brabant built a large building across from the city hall as symbol of ducal power. It was built on the site of the first cloth and bread markets, which were no longer in use, and it became known as the King's House (Conincxhuys), although no king has ever lived there. It is currently known as the Maison du roi (King's House). Wealthy merchants and the increasingly powerful guilds of Brussels built houses around the edge of the square .The Grand Place continued to serve as a market until November 19, 1959, and it is still called the Great Market or Grote Markt in Dutch. Neighbouring streets still reflect the area's origins, named after the sellers of butter, cheese, herring, and coal and so on. The Grand Place was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. One of the houses was owned by the brewers' guild, and is now the home of a brewers' museum. Each of the houses around the Grand' Place, which vary considerably in size, has its own name: Les Ducs de Brabant, Le Roi de l'Espagne, Le Cornet, Le Cygne, the Maison des Brasseurs, Le Cerf, La Maison des Tailleurs. In a number of cases the ground floors have been converted for use as shops, restaurants, or cafes. The Grand Place was voted the most beautiful square in Europe in 2010. Moscow’s Red Square and the Place Stanislas in Nancy, France, took second and third place. Every two years in August, an enormous "flower carpet" is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colourful begonias are set up in patterns, and the display covers a full 79feet by 253 feet, for area total of 19,000 square feet. The first flower carpet was made in 1971, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued, with the flower carpet attracting a large number of tourists. Between April and September, the town square and its building are illuminated at night to the rhythm of music .Two sessions of 15 minutes between 21.30 hr and 23.15 hr (this timing depends on the timing of sun set).
002-TOWN HALL (HOTEL DE VILLE) - The Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) of the City of Brussels is a Gothic building from the Middle Ages. It is located on the famous Grand Place .The oldest part of the present Town Hall is its east wing (to the left, when facing the front). This wing, together with a small belfry, was built from 1402 to 1420. A second, shorter wing was completed within five years of Charles the Bold laying its first stone in 1444. The 315 feet high tower in Brabantine Gothic style. Atop the spire stands a 12 feet-high gilt metal statue of the archangel Michael, patron saint of Brussels, slaying a dragon or devil .The facade is decorated with numerous statues representing nobles, saints, and allegorical figures. The present sculptures are reproductions; the older ones are in the city museum in the "King's House" across the Grand Place. The Town Hall accommodated not only the municipal authorities of the city, but until 1795, the States of Brabant. In 1830, a provisional government assembled here during the attempt of the Third French Revolution which provoked the separation of the Southern Netherlands from the Northern Netherlands and resulting in the formation of Belgium as is known presently.
003-THE ROYAL PALACE (PALAIS ROYAL) -The Royal Palace is on the Place des Palais facing the Palais de la Nation, home of the Belgian Parliament, across the Park of Brussels. The Park was once part of the hunting ground of the Dukes of Brabant. It was also the scene of fierce fighting in 1830 when Belgium gained her independence. Ever since the 12th century when the Counts of Louvain built a fortress on the Coudenberg hill, there has been a noble residence overlooking the Park of Brussels. The King and Queen reside in the Palace of Laeken but King Philippe I has his offices here and it is used for state receptions, royal audiences and court ceremonies. The Throne Room is particularly impressive, over 150 feet long it has an elaborate mosaic parquet floor and is lit by eleven chandeliers. Other rooms on view are the Blue Room, the Louis XVI Music Salon with its ebony piano inset with copper and semi-precious stones, the Goya Room, hung with tapestries modelled on paintings by the Spanish Court painter, the Empire Room, the two White Salons and the Mirror Room, panelled in elaborately carved oak with four ceiling-high mirrors set between fluted marble columns. Each year, during summer months only, the Royal Palace in Brussels opens its doors to the public. The admission is free. Opening hours are: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM.
004-CATHEDRAL OF SAINTS MICHEL AND GUDULE - This magnificent cathedral, dedicated to the male and female patron saints of Brussels, is located near Central Station. It was completed by the end of the 15th century in the Brabant Gothic style, but was damaged by the French shelling of 1695.The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a Roman Catholic Church at the Treurenberg Hill in Brussels. It serves as the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels .The south tower contains a 49-bell carillon by the Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry on which Sunday concerts are often given. The dimensions of the building are: overall length 114 meters, exterior width at the choir 57 meters, interior width 54 meters, height of towers 64 meters .As it is located in the national capital and therefore often used for Catholic ceremonies of national interest, such as royal marriages and state funerals.
005-ATOMINIUM- The Atominium is an iconic building in Brussels originally constructed for Expo '58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. It stands 102 m tall. Its nine 18 m diameter stainless steel spheres are connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Tubes connect the spheres along the 12 edges of the cube and all eight vertices to the centre. They enclose escalators and a lift to allow access to the five habitable spheres which contain exhibit halls and other public spaces. The top sphere provides a panoramic view of Brussels.
006-MANNEKEN PIS - This world famous peeing boy at the corner of Rue de L’Etuve and Stoofstaat near Grand Place .This Bronz fountain of a small peeing boy is the symbol of the city. It is a famous Brussels landmark. It is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. It was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619.The famous statue is located at the junction of Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat. It is a 61 cm tall bronze statue on the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes, it was made in 1619 by Brussels sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy the Elder, father of the more famous François Duquesnoy. The figure has been repeatedly stolen, the current statue dates from 1965. The original restored version is kept at the Maison du Roi/Broodhuis on the Grand Place. There are several legends behind this statue, the most prevalent story (told often to tourists) tells of a wealthy merchant who, during a visit to the city with his family, had his beloved young son go missing. The merchant hastily formed a search party that searched all corners of the city until the boy was found happily urinating in a small garden. The merchant, as a gift of gratitude to the locals who helped out during the search, built the fountain. The statue is dressed in costume several times each week, according to a published schedule which is posted on the railings around the fountain. His wardrobe consists of several hundred different costumes, many of which may be viewed in a permanent exhibition inside the City Museum, located in the Grand Place, immediately opposite the Town Hall.
007-MINI EUROPE-350 miniature attractions, a fascinating presentation of Europe at a scale of 1:25. Mini-Europe is a miniature park located in Bruparck at the foot of the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium. Mini-Europe has reproductions of monuments in the European Union. Roughly 80 cities and 350 buildings are represented. The park contains live action models (train, mills, eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Airbus, cable cars, etc.). At the end of the visit, the “Spirit of Europe” exhibition gives an interactive overview of the European Union in the form of multimedia games. The park is built on an area of 24,000 m².
008 -PLACE ROYALE/KING’S SQUARE -The Place Royale ("Royal Square"/"King's Square") is a historic square near the center of Brussels which is surrounded by museums. Construction of the new buildings around the square took from 1773 to 1780. The square is almost an exact replica of the Place Royale in Reims. The principal building on the square is the Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, consecrated in 1787. On the western side of the square is the main building of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, next to the Magritte Museum while on the south-east side is the BELVUE Museum. At the centre of Place Royale is a statue of Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the first crusade in 1096, riding on horseback.
009-BRUPARK- It is a reconstructed Belgium village having café, Restaurant, Tropical beach at indoor-OCEDE, OCEADE -swimingpool, KINEPLIS-one of the largest movie complex in Europe . Bruparck is a large recreational area that includes many attractions including the very popular Mini-Europe, Oceade Water Park, Kinepolis 24 screen cinema and 'the Village' for food and drinks and children playground. Also, next to the park can be found the famous Atomium, the Planetarium, and also close by is the Park De Laeken, which are also worth visiting at the same time, particularly as these attractions are located outside the city centre. Oceade Water Park is an half indoor, half outdoor family water attraction park. There is a swimming pool and 11 slides - large and small - as well as other attractions and saunas.
010- CONGRESS COLUMN-The Congress Column is a monument situated on the Place du Congrès / Congresplein in Brussels. It commemorates the formation of the Belgian state and constitution by the National Congress in 1830-1831. It was erected on the initiative of Charles Rogie. It was inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome. The column, with the statue of king Leopold I of the Belgians surmounting it included, has a total height of 47 m. A spiral staircase of 193 stairs in the interior of the column leads to a platform surrounding the pedestal of the statue of King Leopold I. As a memorial to the Belgian victims of the First World War, five unknown soldiers were buried at the foot of the monument on 11 November 1922. Their tomb is surmounted by an eternal flame .The important dates in the struggle for Belgian independence are engraved on the pedestal of the column, together with the names of the members of the National Congress of Belgium and the Provisional Government and important passages from the liberal Belgian constitution of 1830. The four sitting statues surrounding the pedestal represent the major constitutional liberties- the 'Liberty of Union' by Charles Fraikin, the Liberty of Worship by Eugène Simonis, the Liberty of Press and the Liberty of Education both by Joseph Geefs. Two monumental bronze Lions by Eugène Simonis are placed in front of the monument.
011-CINQUATENAIRE TRIUMPHAL ARCH- The Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is not only a park but a national landmark in Brussels. The name means “Park of the fiftieth anniversary”. It was built during the reign of Leopold II to commemorate fifty years of Belgian independence. Brussels Parc du Cinquantenaire symbolically, the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels is also built in the shape of a pentagon, like the inner and outer rings of the city. The area of the park is 74acres, most buildings of the U-shaped complex which dominate the park. The present centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolizing the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The surrounding 74acres park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the century. This settled however in 1930 when it was decided that Cinquantenaire would become a leisure park. Cinquantenaire sits just outside the inner close to the European Quarter. At the south eastern point, a giant arch with two arms extending out to house museums rests behind a fountain marking the grand entrance. The two arms of the arch are home to three museums in Brussels, in the left arm is Autoworld, a museum dedicated to cars which showcases the evolution of cars throughout modern times, the one on the right has an Art Museum and an Army Museum .Visitors can climb to the top of the arch for free from an entrance in the army museum to see a nice view of Brussels and then European Quarter. Most visitors will stop at the fountain, take a photo of the arch and move onto other sites. But if you have some time to walk through the park you realize that this is one of the most beautiful parks in Brussels.
012-BRUSSELS PARLIAMENT -. It is neoclassical building located on rues de Lombardstraat and houses the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region .The Brussels Parliament building largely dates back to the early twentieth century. The hemicycle is on the top floor of the building, with the roof being of modern zinc and glass design. The chamber is encircled by a long curved wooden wall and there is an overhanging press and public gallery. Committee rooms have likewise been updated with modern technology but much of the building remains neoclassical. There is also a cafeteria and reading room for deputies. The four rear wings have administrative functions, including housing the Presidents offices. There is also 400 square meters of hanging gardens extending to heights of up to 27 meters.
013- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - Similar to a National Parliament, the European Parliament consists of an elected group of representatives called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), there are 785 MEPs after the 2004 elections. The role of the European Parliament is to amend, delay or reject new laws. European Parliament Brussels in terms of hierarchy, they are traditionally less powerful that the Council of Ministers who are able to pass certain laws without the co-decision of the European. The European Parliament is quite welcoming to visitors. The public can attend parliamentary sittings, receive audio-guided visits and organise group tours. All visits are free of charge
014- GREAT SYNAGOGUE OF EUROPE - The Great Synagogue of Europe, formerly known as the Great Synagogue of Brussels, is the main synagogue in Brussels, which was dedicated as a focal point for European Jews in 2008. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Jews settled in Belgium after having been expelled from England and France. Another wave of immigration to Belgium came in the 15th century when the Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal. With the arrival of German refugees in the 1930s, the Jewish population in Belgium reached its peak. The building is in a Romanesque-Byzantine style and constructed in 1878. It is located at 32 Rue de la Regence in Brussels. The synagogue survived the Holocaust in which 25,000 Belgian Jews died. Great Synagogues were built in many capitals of Europe to show that Jews were full and free citizens. This is something the Jewish community now wished to show at a European level. It is hoped that the building will become a focus for Judaism in Europe, as St. Peter's Basilica is for Roman Catholics.
015 - GALERIES ROYALES ST. HUBERT-The "Galeries Royales St Hubert" (Royal St Hubert Galleries) in Brussels equal two hundred meters long monument. They were constructed as a commercial spirit under a beautiful glass roof. They are without any doubt the most beautiful covered galleries of Europe. Ever since 1850, they have become the favourite promenade location and place to be for all sorts of artists and intellectuals. The galleries are divided into 3 parts, the "Galeries de la Reine" (the Queen's Gallery), the "Galerie du Roi" (the King's Gallery) and the "Galerie des Princes" (the Princes' Gallery). Nice ready-to-wear brands, renowned leather goods dealers, Belgian and foreign stylists and designers, big chocolate brands, quality restaurants and even a theatre and a cinema have found their place as well at the cultural Mecca of Brussels.
016- ANCIENNE BELGIQUE -The Ancienne Belgique (Old Belgium) is a concert hall for contemporary music in Brussels. Located in the historic heart of Brussels, it is one of the leading concert venues in Belgium, hosting a wide variety of international and local acts .The venue consists of three concert halls: the "Main Hall", the "ABBox", and the "ABClub". The Main Hall is, logically, the Ancienne Belgique's main hall, and has a capacity of 2,000 people. It is said to be one of the best concert halls in Belgium, with perfect acoustics. The ABBox is the newest addition to the Ancienne Belgique. It is the same space as the Main Hall, but rearranged for greater intimacy: the seats in the back and the balconies at the sides of the hall are covered, limiting its capacity to 800 people. The ABClub has a capacity of approximately 250 people, and hosts smaller, up-and-coming acts.
017- AUTOWORLD - Auto World is a vintage car museum in the centre of Belgium, located in the southern hall of the Cinquantenaire Park. It holds a large and varied collection of 350 vintage European and American automobiles from the late 19th century until the seventies. Including Minervas, such models as a 1928 Bentley, a 1930 Bugatti and a 1930 Cord and several limousines which belonged to the Belgian royal family
018-BOTANICAL GARDEN-The Botanical Garden of Brussels stands on Rue Royale in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, near the Northern Quarter financial district in Brussels .Originally founded in 1826 and the main orangery (Le Botanique) is composed of a central rotunda with a dome, and two side aisles with windows at the ends .The Belgian state bought the garden in 1870 and commissioned various fountains, electrical lighting and an extensive program of sculpture that would both beautify the park and develop the country's public art and artists. Fifty-two sculptures were executed between 1894 and 1898. In 1938 most of the botanical resources were removed to the new site National Botanic Garden of Belgium on the outskirts of the city. The original garden now stands as a cultural centre, while it’s historical statues, and its remarkable collection of species of large trees, stands intact.
019- ROYAL MUSEUMS OF FINE ARTS OF BELGIUM - The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is one of the most famous museums in Belgium .The museums are situated in the capital Brussels in the downtown area on the Coudenberg. There are four museums connected with the Royal Museum and two of them (the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art, Brussels), are in the main building. The other two (the Constantin Meunier Museum and the Antoine Wiertz Museum) are dedicated to specific Belgian artists, are much smaller, and are located a few kilometres from the city centre. The Royal Museum contains over 20,000 drawings, sculptures, and paintings, which date from the early 15th century to the present. The museum has an extensive collection of Flemish painting .The main building which now houses the Museum of Ancient Art was built as the Palais des Beaux-Arts, the building was completed in 1887 .
020-THE BELGIAN CENTER FOR COMIC STRIP ART-The Belgian Comic Strip chronicles the history of Belgian comics. Housed in a former department store in Brussels' business district, it exhibits examples of comic strips in French, Dutch and English .The full range of comic art is covered, including science fiction, Wild West, crime and politics, as well as children's comics such as The Smurfs. The style of the Tintin comics and their history is examined, including life-size models of characters and sets from Tintin's adventures. The museum also displays artwork from over 670 cartoonists.
021-RUE DE LA LOI -Rue de la Loi is a principal road running through central and eastern Brussels which is famous due to the presence of several notable governmental buildings (of Belgium and the European Union). The road runs from Rue Royale/Koningsstraat almost in the centre of Brussels, to Schuman roundabout, in its European quarter .The Belgian Federal Parliament is at the beginning of this street, but also the office of the prime minister at number 16. At the far end is the Berlaymont building on the Schuman roundabout and Cinquantenaire beyond that. The road was redeveloped into a higher capacity one way thoroughfare in 1969 with the first metro line being built under it. In 2001 it was proposed that one lane of the road should be removed and the pavements extended to include cycle ways.
022-NATIONAL BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART (Koekelberg) - The basilica is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, like the more famous and equally patriotic Basilique Sacré-Coeur in Paris. The more common name "Basilica of Koekelberg" derives from its location in the Koekelberg area of Brussels as it is located in the Parc Elisabeth atop the Koekelberg Hill in Brussels' Koekelberg municipality. The church was built between 1905 & 1971.It was built to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence. In 1905King Leopold II laid the cornerstone of the basilica. Construction was interrupted by the two World Wars and wasn't finished until 1971.The Basilica is faced in brick. The Art Deco church features two thin towers and a green copper dome that rises 89m high, making it the fifth-largest church in the world and by area it’s the tenth. The central nave is 141 m long, and at its widest the building is 107 m. The cupola has a diameter of 33 m (108 feet). The church accommodates 3500 people. The main dome, flanked by two towers, can be climbed in summer for excellent views over Brussels. The church, on Koekelberg hill, is a landmark on the Brussels skyline.
BRUSSELS OUTSTATION TOURS-
TOUR- i-Guided Tour in Waterloo. Duration is 5 hours.
ii- Ghent and Bruges Day Trip from Brussels-The distance from Brussels to Ghent is 1.00 hours and to Bruges is 1.50hours.It’s a full day (12hrs) tour.
TOUR- i-Guided Tour in Waterloo. Duration is 5 hours.
ii- Ghent and Bruges Day Trip from Brussels-The distance from Brussels to Ghent is 1.00 hours and to Bruges is 1.50hours.It’s a full day (12hrs) tour.
001-LION’S MOUND AT WATERLOO (La Butte du Lion) - On 18th June 1815, 3, 50,000 men from 7 nations confronted each other at Waterloo to decide Europe’s fate in one of the greatest battles in European history. The Battlefield where these lethal clashes took place is today one of the best preserved in Europe. The Battlefield has seen a real revival, the Visitor Centre, Lion Mound, audio-visual show, film, panorama and waxworks museum bring the famous battle back to life so it can be better understood. The mound is 141feet in height and has a circumference of 1706 feet. The hillock offers a splendid view of the battlefield. To go to top one has to ascend 226 steps leading to observation area and Lion’s statue. Orientation maps documenting the battle and telescope are provided at the top. The statue of Lion is mounted upon a stone block pedestal. The Lion is the coat of arm of the Netherland’s monarch. The iron statue is 14.6 feet high and 14.8 feet long. The Lino’s Mound is situated near Waterloo province of Walloon Brabant. Other attractions are Wellington Museum and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph. It is said the Wellington has prayed before going into battle. Waterloo Battle History – The Battle of Waterloo was fought in Waterloo and is present-day Belgium, about 13 km south by south-east of Brussels and about 1.6 km from the town of Waterloo. The site of the battlefield is today dominated by a large monument, the Lion's Mound. This mound was constructed from earth taken from the battlefield itself. On 13 March 1815, six days before Napoleon reached Paris and the powers at the Congress of Vienna declared him an outlaw. Four days later, the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, and Prussia etc. mobilized armies to defeat Napoleon. Two large forces under Wellington (English) and Blücher (German) assembled close to the north-eastern border of France. Napoleon knew that once his attempts at dissuading one or more of the Seventh Coalition allies from invading France had failed, his only chance of remaining in power was to attack before the coalition mobilized. If he could destroy the existing coalition forces south of Brussels before they were reinforced, he might be able to drive the British back to the sea and knock the Prussians out of the war. The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. An Imperial French army under the command of Emperor Napoleon was defeated by the armies of the Seventh Coalition, comprising an Anglo-allied army under the command of the Duke of Wellington(English) combined with a Prussian (German Kingdom) army under the command of Gebhard von Blücher. It was the culminating battle of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon's last. The defeat at Waterloo ended his rule as Emperor of the French, marking the end of his Hundred Days return from exile. Napoleon abdicated, surrendered to the British, and was exiled to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
002- STRÉPY-THIEU BOAT LIFT -The Strépy-Thieu boat lift lies on a branch of the Canal du Centre in the municipality of Le Rœulx, Hainaut, Belgium. It is about 56kms(through E19) from Brussels .With a height difference of 73.15 meters (240.0 feet) between the upstream and downstream reaches, it is the tallest boat lift in the world, and will remain so until the Three Gorges dam boat lift in China is finished. The boat lift was designed during the Canal du Centre's modernization program in order to replace a system of two locks and four 16-metre lifts dating from 1888 to 1919. Construction of the lift commenced in 1982 and was not completed until 2002 at an estimated cost of € 160 million, this will permitted river traffic of up to the new 1350-tonne standard to pass between the waterways of the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. The structure at Strépy-Thieu consists of two independent counterweighted caissons which travel vertically between the upstream and downstream sections. Due to Archimedes' Principle, the caissons weigh the same whether they are laden with a boat or simply contain water. In practice, variations in the water level mean that the mass of each caisson varies between 7200 and 8400 tones. The caissons have useful dimensions of 112 m by 12 m and a water depth of between 3.35 and 4.15 m. Each caisson is supported by 112 suspension cables (for counterbalance) and 32 control cables (for lifting/lowering), each of 85 mm diameter. The suspension cables pass over idler pulleys with a diameter of 4.8 m. Four electric motors power eight winches per caisson and the 73.15-metre lift is completed in seven minutes. The boat lift is being promoted as a tourist attraction in its own right by the government of Hainaut. A pedestrian ticket for a one-way ride on the lift costs €5.50.
003-BRUGES-It is a town in the northern part of Belgium. It is a canal based city like Amsterdam and referred as "The Venice of the North". At one time, it was considered the "chief commercial city" of the world and was due to its port. Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact. The historic centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
i-Church of Our Lady- The Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire reaches 122.3 m, making it one of the worlds highest brick towers/buildings. The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is believed to be Michelangelo's only sculpture to have left Italy within his lifetime.
ii-Belfry & Cloth Hall in Gorte Market-It is 83m high tower as one of the symbols of the city. The original cloth hall and tower date from 1240. The first tower, however, was destroyed by fire in 1280. The present octagonal lantern was added to the tower between 1482 and 1486. The belfry tower was the place where the important documents of the city were preserved. At the same time such towers were used as watchtowers. Inside hung bells, each bell having a distinct sound and function (e.g. bells for danger, bells for important announcements, bells to indicate the time). In the cloth hall, the Flemish cloth which was manufactured in different other cities was sold to the rest of the world. In 1399, for instance, there were 384 sales stands inside the hall. Nowadays, the belfry tower charms the visitor with the lovely music of a carillion, which consists of 47 bells. Other more recent decorations are the sculpture of the Madonna in renaissance style and the weapon with a Belgian lion.
iii-Gorte Market- The Market ("Market Square") of Bruges is located in the heart of the city, indicates that this was the medieval heart of the city. The market place (Grote Market) is free from traffic since October 1996. It has been completely refurbished and is now one of the most attractive parts of the city. The main monument is of course the belfry tower and the cloth hall. On the Northern side of the Market is the Provincial Court. Right in the middle of the square the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck can be seen. The statue not only honors these two leaders of the 'Battle of the Golden Spurs' which took place on the 11th of July 1302. Both Breydel and de Coninck participated in the 1302 uprising of the Flemish against the occupation by the French king, known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs'. The other sides of the market are occupied by restaurants and shops located in former private houses as well as in guild houses. Provincial court is on the northern side and on the left side of the complex is now the house of the Governor of the Province of West-Flanders. The red brick building on the right side is the Post Office of Bruges.
iv-Provincial Court- This building is on the Northern side of the Market. It stands on the site were the medieval 'water halls' used to stand. This was a covered hall where the ships could unload their products for storage in the halls or for direct sale on the adjacent market. After the destruction of the water halls in 1787 a new complex of houses was built there in classicist style.
v- Basilica of the Holy Blood- The chapel of the Holy Blood is actually a double chapel which can be visited on the 'Burg' square in Bruges. It was first constructed in the 12th century and promoted to the rank of Basilica in 1923. One can enter the church on the first floor where the Holy Blood is kept via the 'Steeghere'. The church on the first floor is the actual chapel of the Holy Blood. The lower part is called the Basilius chapel. It has preserved its original Romanesque style from the 12th-13th century. On the left side of the choir is the former chapel of the clerks of the civil registry (1503) and on the right side one can see a statue of the Virgin from around 1300.
The Relic Of The Holy Blood- One of the apocryphal gospels mentions that Joseph of Arimathea preserved the blood after he had washed the dead body of Jesus). The relic containing the blood of Christ from Jerusalem to Bruges after the second crusade. It is almost certain that the bottle was made in the area of Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey) and that it was meant to contain perfume.
The Relic Of The Holy Blood- One of the apocryphal gospels mentions that Joseph of Arimathea preserved the blood after he had washed the dead body of Jesus). The relic containing the blood of Christ from Jerusalem to Bruges after the second crusade. It is almost certain that the bottle was made in the area of Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey) and that it was meant to contain perfume.
vi- Minnewater-It is a canalized lake. From the bridge (1740) one can already enjoy a nice panoramic view over the town. Because of the idyllic surroundings it is mostly referred to as 'the lake of Love'. It was here that the coastal river 'Reie'. The river was later canalized and made to continue until the center of town. The lake was used as a water reservoir, to keep the water of the canals at a constant level. Next to the lake is the Minnewater park, where sometimes in the summertime (rock) concerts are organized. One of the symbols of Bruges is the swan. There are always plenty of them on the 'Minnewater'.
vii- The Canals- In the Middle-Ages, the waterways to Bruges had to be regularly cleaned and enlarged to allow large trade ships to reach the city. Already in the 12th century the cargo was mostly brought to the outposts. Inside the city the 'Reie' river had been turned into a network of canals that enabled the traders to bring their products to the large Water Halls at the Market. Inside the Water Halls the goods were stored or sold directly. Nowadays no commercial ships sail on the Bruges 'reien'/canals anymore. The canals are now exclusively used for tourist boats.
viii-Burg Square- Bruges is a city with two town squares. The largest one is the Market, the commercial heart of medieval Bruges. The second square is called the 'Burg'. There was a fortified castle to protect the area from Normans and Vikings. There was a church of St. Donatius built in 900AD. Next to the gothic town hall stands the Old Civil Registry in renaissance style. The bronze statues represent Justice, Moses and Aaron. On its left side is another building in another style- the former Court of Justice in neo-classicist style. Inside this building is the famous monumental chimney of the 'Brugse Vrije'. The chimney was built between 1528 and 1581 in wood, alabaster and marble. The former Court of Justice now houses the Tourist Information center of Bruges in the corner of the square, next to the town hall, is the Basilius church and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
ix-Town Hall-It is one of the most beautiful buildings of Bruges .On the front side are also displayed the town weapons of the cities and villages that were under administrative rule from Bruges. There are 48 niches for statues.
x-Boat Cruise-The cruise starts from Georges STAEL- Katelijnestraat 48000 Brugge (at Burg Square). Departures are from 10am to 5.30pm at every 30 minutes. (Closed from November to 16th March). The cost was €8 and trips last 30 minutes the tour was given in Dutch / French / English and German.
004-GENT-It is a city and municipality located in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Leie. The city of Gent (Ghent) is one of Belgium's most beautiful communities. Conveniently located between Brussels and Bruges, Gent features medieval buildings, canals and a host of tourist attractions like the three towers of St Nicholas Church, the Belfort and St Bavo’s Cathedral. Gent Belgium has a long and interesting history that dates back to the iron age. In the 13th century, it was the second largest city in Europe, after Paris. Gent is only a 30-minute train ride away from Brussels and is on the line from Brussels to Bruges and the coast. The center of Ghent is quite small, so you can walk around on foot. However, the main station (Gent Sint-Pieters) is not in the city center, but takes a walk of about half an hour. The best option is to take the tram, which takes you directly to the center in 10 to 15 minutes. There are three tram lines running from Ghent train station to various central locations. Tickets can be purchased from the automatic machines at the tram stops for about €2/£1.50. Taxis from Ghent train station into the city center cost about €30/£24.
i-Belfry and Cloth Hall (Belfort en Lakenhalle )- The Belfry Tower in Gent Belgium (Ghent) ,Bell Tower started in 1313AD and completed in 1380AD, is located in the city's historical center. Visitors can view the archaeological site under the tower and enjoy a fabulous view of the city from the top. The Belfry is called Belfort in Flemish. The Gent Tourist Information Centre is located on the main floor of the Belfry building. This municipal tower holds the great bells that have rung out Ghent's civic pride through the centuries. Take the elevator to the Belfry's upper gallery, 66m high, to see the bells and take in fantastic panoramic views of the city. The Cloth Hall dates from 1425 and was the gathering place of wool and cloth merchants.
ii-Castle of the Counts(Het Gravensteen )- Built by Count Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders, soon after he returned from the Crusades in 1180 with images of similar crusader castles in the Holy Land.
Climb up to the ramparts of the high central building, the donjon, which has great views of Ghent's rooftops and towers. The Gravensteen is sometimes called the Castle of the Counts (Chateau des Comtes). This medieval castle is situated in the middle of the city. It’s a great place with superb views from the top.
Climb up to the ramparts of the high central building, the donjon, which has great views of Ghent's rooftops and towers. The Gravensteen is sometimes called the Castle of the Counts (Chateau des Comtes). This medieval castle is situated in the middle of the city. It’s a great place with superb views from the top.
iii-St. Nicholas's Church(Sint-Niklaaskerk) - St Nicolas Church is located near the Belfry Tower in the historical center of the city at Limburgstraat. The impressive 13th to 15th-century church was paid for by Ghent's wealthy medieval merchants and guilds.
iv-Rope Beares-Ghent is a little rebel. People from Ghent are called rope bearers as they seriously rebelled against the regime of the Roman Emperor and Spanish King Charles (Karel) V back in 1539. Charles won and humiliated the people of Ghent by having them paraded around town with white undershirts and ropes around their neck. The area around Prinsenhof one will find the famous statue remembering this humiliation.
v-Friday Market Square-Vrijdagmarkt is one of Ghent Belgium's large city squares. Located in the historical center of Gent Belgium, a number of architecturally interesting buildings from the 18th century can be found on the Vrijdagmarkt square. One such building is the Bond Moyson Building. The statue is the center of the square commemorates Jacob Van Artevelde.
vi-City Hall-The Gent Town Hall is one of the most breathtaking buildings in Gent.
vii-Great Butcher's Hall-The Great Butcher's Hall (Vleeshuis) is located in the Grasei District of Gent Belgium and is one of the most unique buildings in the historical Belgian city. Visitors to Gent (Ghent) can take a boat tour from the nearby boat launch.
viii-Belfortstraat-Belfortstraat is one of the main streets in the historical center (Historisch Centrum) of Gent.It runs from the Belfort Tower north towards St. James' Church.The large building in the bottom left is the Ghent Town Hall (Stadhuis).
ix-Town Square (Sint-Baafsplein) -The attractive town square in Ghent Belgium (Gent) that is situated between the Royal Dutch Theatre, the Belfry Tower and St. Bavo's Cathedral.