Brussels
Attractions - It is always difficult to pick
out a number of attractions from the great sightseeing
opportunities in Brussels but here are the ten I'd
recommend you put top of your list. On this page is
just a very short comment on each of them but go to
to link page and you'll find more information:
1 The famous Brussels Manneken
Pis statue (of a little boy taking a
‘leak’). It’s is located 3 blocks
from the Grand Place square on the corner of Rue de
l’Etuve and Rue du Chêne, it is a famous
symbol of Brussels and Belgians fancy dressing him
up in one of his 675 costumes with a change every
few days. MORE
….
2 The Grand
Place Square is the most sought after
attraction to see in Brussels- it is hidden downtown
with little narrow side alley ways from all over leading
to it. And once you stumble upon it, you come into
this huge square with beautiful Gothic and Baroque
architecture along the whole square where old Guild
Halls, the famous Hotel De Ville, and numerous pubs,cafes
and restaurants sandwiched next to each other in this
fabulous downtown center of Brussels ....
MORE …
3 Musée
de la Ville de Bruxelles
is a Brussels city museum – tapestries, old
maps, architectural relics, paintings, and three dimensional
models can be viewed on all three floors. On the third
floor if you fancy, check out the Manneken Pis costume
display. MORE
...
4 Located right off the Grand Place
on Rue de la Violette 6, you’ll find the Musée
du Costume et de la Dentelle –
it is famous for it’s beautiful lace and costumes
on display.
MORE....
5 You can’t miss the Galeries
St. Hubert – located one block
from the Grand Place, the glass vaulted archway roof
is sure to draw your attention. You’ll find
several of Belgians gourmet chocolate shops, delicious
French Bistros/restaurants, fashion, books, and electronic
shops. MORE
....
6 Be very selective when visiting
the famous (once Butcher’s Street) Rue
des Bouchers – the street is lined
with touristy restaurants- most offering seafood especially
the famous Moule et Pomme Frittes (which is delicious!)
– don’t be lured by the restaurateurs
enticing you to look at their menus and come inside.
I recommend Chez Leon and Aux Arms de Bruxelles (I
had a hard time finding the latter – make sure
to look at your Brussels street map first). MORE
.....
7 Cathédrale
des Sts Michel & Gudule is beautiful
often-overlooked twin-towered Cathedral located ion
the hillside to the north of Gare Centrale. The Cathedral
was built over a 300 year period and consequently
boasts a blend of architectural styles including Romanesque,
Gothic and Renaissance.
MORE ....
8 Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée
& Grand Magasin Waucquez is the famous Belgian
Centre for Comic Strip Art – located
at Rue des Sables 20 not far from the Grand Place.
The centre plays host to some beautiful, vivid, vibrant
comic strip culture showpieces. MORE
...
9 The Rue
Neuve Area is a well-known and visited
pedestrian shopping district in Brussels – you’ll
find numerous European department stores such as H
& M, eating places such as Pannini Italian-style
sandwich places, as well as historical sites such
as Église Notre Dame du Finistère –
an 18th Century church hovering over the modern mayhem
in the streets below MORE
....
10 Travel to the north side of the
city and you’ll find the Atomium
(located on Blvd du Centenaire) – this giant
molecule model that rises up into the sky was built
for the Worlds Fair in 1958 but soon became a symbol
of post-war success. MORE.
....
And for good measure, I suggest you take a tour of
the fabulous Art
Nouveau style houses and buildings in
Brussels. Reflected in numerous Brussels buildings
it is an architecture style characterized by sinuous
lines – organic tendrils, feminine curves and
floral motifs. MORE
...
And we haven’t mentioned any of the huge and
magnificent European Union buildings but maybe that
area is for another visit to Brussels. Nor the beautiful
parks and open spaces that are all over Brussels –
Parc du Cinquantenaire, Parc de Bruxelles, Domaine
Royal de Lacken – do try and fit in some of
these as you pass by.
