Top 15 Interesting Places to Visit in Belgium
Belgium is a small but beautiful country in Northern Europe. It borders
France, the Netherlands and Germany, and it actually has three official
languages: French, German and Dutch. The language barriers tend to correspond to
the proximity of nearby countries. The French speaking part of Belgium is closest to France,
the Dutch is closer to the Netherlands, and the German speaking is closer to
Germany. There are over 11 million people living in Belgium today. It is a
constitutional monarchy with a new king, King Philippe. This beautiful country
is known for its beer, chocolates, and waffles, and it is responsible for
inventing French fries. In addition to their food and beer heritage, Belgium has
a long history of art and culture, with many different places to see. Belgium
has a rich history, reflected in its beautiful architecture and cities.
When you visit Belgium, whether it is on your way while doing a driving tour
of Europe, or just to see Belgium, you should make time to take in these fifteen
places when you
visit.
15) La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers Belges
All around the world, Belgium is known for its
chocolate. Therefore, if you
are in Belgium, then you must visit La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers Belges,
which translates to "House of the Belgian Master Chocolate-makers. In this
house, located at the Grande Place in Brussels, you can see ten artisans making
traditional Belgian chocolate. They come from various parts of the country, and
each has a unique way to create chocolate. You get to see the creation, made
from the finest ingredients, like pure cocoa butter.
Inside of La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers Belges
Courtesy of Tripadvisor.com
You will have a new respect
for chocolatiers after visiting La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers Belges. You
not only get to watch the artists at their work, you can taste the artwork
afterward. You might try to bring some home to your friends and family, but
somehow it may not make it that far. When you get home, eating chocolate will
never be the same after you have tried some of the best chocolate in Belgium,
and possibly in the entire world.
14) Ducasse de Mons
Only taking place in June, the Ducasse de Mons or the Doudou, has been a
tradition in the town of Mons since 1349. This festival re-enacts the slaying of
the dragon by Saint George, and is actually a UNESCO-recognized festival as a
Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Parade Members During Ducasse de Mons
By Marie-Claire,
via Wikimedia Commons
During the
festival, you are supposed to try to grab the tail and pull out any hair and
ribbons of the dragon that moves through the crowd swinging its tail. If you are
fortunate enough to get one, then you will have good luck. While you are in Mons
for the festival, or if you are unable to visit Belgium in June, there is plenty
to see in this quaint town. Victor Hugo called Mons a very strange town. There
is a mix of numerous architectural styles in Mons, making many feel that the
town is blessed with whimsical buildings.
Gathering Outside of Car d'Or
By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Town Hall itself is worth checking
out, built between 1458 and 1477 in a Gothic Style. You should also look at the
270-foot high Belfry that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is plenty
to see in Mons, regardless of whether you can make it for the famous Ducasse de
Mons or not.
13) Manneken Pis
You may have seen a picture of Manneken Pis, as he is probably one of
Belgium's most famous residents. You can find him in Brussels at the junction of
Rue de l'Etuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chene/Eikstraat, not far from the Town
Hall and la Grand Place. His name literally means "little man pee," and he is a
small, sculpted fountain depicting a little boy urinating. Manneken Pis first
arrived in Brussels in 1618 or 1619, and was created by Hieronymus Duquesnoy the
Elder. There are numerous legends and stories surrounding him, and he has
actually been stolen several times. The Manneken Pis you will see on your visit
is actually a replication fashioned in 1965. The original version is now at the
Masion du Roi or Brooshuis at the Grand Place.
By Markus Koljonen (Dilaudid),
via Wikimedia Commons
The most famous legend about Manneken Pis has him as a two-year-old lord with a troop battling against
another lord. To encourage them, his troops put him in a basket in a tree, and
the boy urinates on the enemy troops, who lose. A similar story involves a young
boy spying on a foreign power fighting against Brussels. He sees a burning fuse
that is meant to blow up the city walls, and urinates on it to save the city.
There are many more such legends circulating about this little statue, which
also has important traditions.
12) Antwerp
Antwerp is a beautiful city that is famous for its nightlife and creative
history. It features numerous funky bars and restaurants for you to enjoy. If
you visit Antwerp for the food and bars, you should be sure to try gin, jenever.
Fashionistas love visiting Antwerp for shopping. The Antwerp Fashion Academy is
known for producing hot talent in the fashion world, and there is also the
Antwerp Fashion Museum to check out. You can shop around Antwerp and find many
fashionable items that have not yet hit the bigger cities.
Antwerp's Cathedral
By Fuss,
via Wikimedia Commons
The center of the
city has beautiful medieval buildings alongside more modern buildings. Antwerp
has a long history of artists in residence, including its famous citizens,
Rubens and Van Dyke. Centuries later, you can still see the mark left behind by
these two important artists. If you love art, be sure to visit Koninklijk Museum
voor Schone Kunsten and the city's cathedral.
11) Strawberry Stands of Wepion
If you love fresh strawberries, then you have to visit the strawberry stands
of Wepion. Be sure to go during the summer growing season. The strawberries
alone make Wepion one of the places to visit in Belgium. For over 150 years, the
perfect climate of Wepion has produced delicious strawberries, making it the
capitol of strawberries in Belgium. During strawberry season, the local farmers
line the streets with their stands, selling their juicy, delicious goods to
locals and tourists alike.
By 3268zauber,
via Wikimedia Commons
Even if strawberries are not on your favorite food
list, you should still take a moment to indulge in these fresh and succulent
varieties, unless you are allergic. While you are enjoying your strawberries,
you can wander around the charming little town of Wepion. You can also look for
a café or restaurant specializing in Belgian waffles and enjoy fresh Wepion
strawberries and cream on top of delicious, freshly made waffles.
10) Ghent
Ghent may just seem like a university town; however, it is a gorgeous place
that you must explore. In fact, many Belgians take the trip to Ghent themselves.
Ghent is not a town to drive through, especially as the beautiful town center is
closed to any vehicle traffic. You can wander around on foot or bicycle, or you
can enjoy the city on a boat, floating along the numerous canals. You should
definitely check out the Gavensteen, or Castle of the Counts, a medieval
fortress.
Ghent Canal
When you take the time to look at the castle, be sure to take a moment
to look at the battlements and torture chambers that still exist. It is an
incredible experience, especially if you love castles. If a castle does not
tickle your fancy, you can also enjoy looking at the many 13th-century Gothic
churches or 17th-century canal houses. Ghent is not a place to go if you are
looking for the hustle and bustle of a city. Visiting Ghent is all
about relaxing, spending all day in a café, and enjoying the beauty of the city.
Ghent Canal in the Twilight of the Evening
It does feature many places to see for art and culture education, including
numerous museums, about a hundred churches, and hundreds of other historical
buildings.
9) Liege Train Station
The newly opened train station in Liege was designed by world-renowned
architect, Santiago Calatrava. It is a beautiful building worth checking out. It
features a monumental arch that is 160 meters long and 32 meters high. It is a
modern building that is both functional as well as architecturally beautiful.
City of Liege
By Jacques Renier,
via Wikimedia Commons
This station is
actually a very important hub and is connected to the high-speed rail network.
Over 15,000 people use it every day. The best way to check it out is to take a
train to Liege from one of the bigger cities, like Brussels, and then stay for a
day or two to enjoy the rest that Liege has to offer.
The Liege-Guillemins Rail Station
By Santiago Calatrava Valls,
via Wikimedia Commons
What the Station Looked Like in the 1970s
There are numerous
historical cites and art to enjoy in the many museums. You must go to the
citadel in Liege and explore its winding path of steps through the orchids and
courtyards and stop to relish the view at the top. If you are here on a Sunday,
check out the La Batte Sunday market, which is the oldest, and largest, in
Belgium.
You will enjoy your stop in Liege, no matter how long you end up
staying in this beautiful town.
8) Van Gogh's House in Mons
For a time, famous post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh lived in the
Belgian town of Mons. During the years of 1879 and 1880, Van Gogh worked as a
church missionary and lived in a miner's house while painting during his free
time. In 1972, the house began to fall apart and become decrepit. Fortunately
the tourist board and others saved it from destruction, and the renovations even
included assistance from some of Van Gogh's descendents. Their diligent efforts,
as well as their painstakingly sharp attention to detail, made it to look just
as it did when Van Gogh lived there. There is now a permanent exhibition of
mainly reproductions of his famous work housed inside the rehabilitated
structure.
By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT (own workCanon EF – Canon Lens 100 mm F2,8),
via Wikimedia Commons
They are proud to now have an original piece titled "the Diggers,"
as part of their permanent collection at this artistically historical site. The
Van Gogh house
today serves as a museum, and is kept in the exact same manner that it was when
Van Gogh lived there.
Additionally, they have exhibits with many of Van Gogh's correspondence and
papers, providing you with an inside look into the troubled artist's mind. There
is also an audiovisual tour you can take around the house while you are there to
gain a keener understanding of Van Gogh. If you are a fan of the artist, modern
art, or art in general, then Van Gogh's house in Mons should definitely make
your list of places to visit while in Belgium.
7) SPA, the Pearl of the Ardennes
SPA in Belgium is the original spa, after which all other spas are named.
Visitors began to going there for the hot-spring water in the 14th century and
new visitors never stopped coming. The waters around Spa were thought to heal and treat a variety of
ailments. By the 18th century, the tourists drawn to it made it a true resort
town.
SPA - The Pearl of the Ardennes
By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT,
via Wikimedia Commons
Capitalizing on the tourists, the first casino in the world was built here
in 1763, and you can still visit there today. You can also still have a relaxing
visit to Spa, enjoying a little piece of serenity surrounded by its beauty. There are beautiful hills and rivers
and springs all around Spa, which is in a wooded valley. If you want to be even
more relaxed, visit the Thermes de Spa and indulge in many modern spa
treatments, like massages, facials, steam rooms, and much more.
You can also swim in
the healing waters, just as visitors have been doing for centuries. If you have
any interest in the history of laundry, be sure to check out the Laundry Museum,
which shows the evolution of washing from ancient times to today.
6)) Ancient Citadel of Namur
One of Belgium's historical places to visit is the ancient citadel of Namur.
Built during the third and fourth centuries, although reconstructed during the
13th and 14th centuries, this ancient citadel surrounds the town of Namur. As one of Europe's largest
citadels, this ancient citadel has much more to offer in that it is extremely
close to many castles that you must visit while in Namur. If you enjoy fairy-tale
castles with turrets, be sure to look at the Castle of Veves.
Citadel of Namur
By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT,
via Wikimedia Commons
Built
back in 1410, the original family still resides in this castle after six hundred
years. For a more modern structure, look to the Castle of Annevoie which was built in the
late 18th century. It is a beautiful chateau featuring gardens and fountains
that you can ramble through to your heart's content. If that isn't enough for
you, you can visit the Castle of Lavaux-Sainte Anne, which features three museums
and a collection of stuffed animals in addition to its impressive use of a dome.
Castle of Lavaux-Sainte Anne
By Tamba52,
via Wikimedia Commons
The
Castle and Gardens of Freyr, which have 300-year-old orange trees, are also a
must see while visiting around Namur.
The Castle and Gardens of Freyr
By
Ben Pirard,
via Wikimedia Commons
After you
have marveled at the citadel and castles, spend some time perusing this
beautiful city set on the Meuse River. There are many boutique shops for anyone
who loves to shop, and finding unique clothes and other goods could be a great
adventure for yourself or any other traveling companions.
5) The Royal Palace
Belgium is a constitutional monarchy with a brand new king, King Philippe,
who was crowned king on July 21, 2013, after his father abdicated the throne. As
with any monarchy, there is a royal palace. In the center of Brussels lies the
Belgian Royal Palace. The royal family does not reside here, instead they live
in the Royal castle of Laeken which is just outside of Brussels. The Royal
Palace is used for the actual running of the government similar to a house of
parliament.
The Royal Palace - Brussels, Belgium
The King deals with the
various affairs of the state, grants audiences, and other royal duties. The Grand Marshal of
the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household
and the Intendant of the King's Civil List also have their offices located at
the Royal Palace. There are State Rooms for official receptions, and apartments
for foreign heads of state when they visit. Nearby is the Palace of the Nation,
of the Parliament building. They are built facing each other with a park in
between to symbolize the constitutional monarchy of the country. The beautiful
neo-classical building standing there today was only built around 1900, although
the history of the palace can be traced back to the 11th century.
4) Mardasson Memorial and the
Wood of Peace
The Battle of the Bulge is one of the most famous battles of World War II,
and it took place in Bastogne. The town of Bastogne has never forgotten the
sacrifice of the thousands of American soldiers who died during this battle,
while saving the town from the Nazis. In memoriam of the duty, honor, and
sacrifice these soldiers demonstrated during that battle, there is a Sherman
Tank from the 11th US Armored Division in the center of town.
The Mardasson Memorial
By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT,
via Wikimedia Commons
However, the real memorial is just outside town and is called the Madasson
Memorial. It honors the 76,890 American soldiers killed, wounded, or missing
during the battle. It is a sight to
see and pay honor and respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. On the 50th
anniversary of the Battle of the bulge, a Wood of Peace was created just outside
town. In 1994, every veteran who returned to Bastogne got to choose a tree to
bear his name forever. The entire 4000 trees that make up the Wood of Peace are
dedicated to all soldiers, veterans, and those who died, both American and
Belgian, and all civilians who fought and died during the winter of 1944-1945.
Wood of Peace
Courtesy of triggertimeforum.yuku.com
From above, this Wood of Peace bears the emblem of UNICEF, a mother and child,
which is universally known as the symbol of human tenderness. If you had any
family members who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, or even just World War II,
you will treasure the respect and honor that this town has provided to those who
fought for them, the majority of whom were foreigners.
3) Historic Center of Bruges
Bruges is a beautiful medieval city that you must stop and see during your tour of
Belgium. The historic center of Bruges is a UNESCO world Heritage Site because
of its preservation of medieval Flanders architecture. Just walking around the
town center, which is closed to cars, will fill up your entire camera's memory
if you are not careful. There is just so much to see and photograph! You can also take a boat around the numerous canals for
a peaceful tour of this majestic, medieval city. In addition to its architecture, Bruges
is famous for its lace. You may want to check out some lace shops and bring
some pieces home with you while you are visiting Bruges.
Bruges Town Center
By Elke Wetzig,
via Wikimedia Commons
Walking around and checking out
the chocolate shops is another good strategy considering there are over 50 of them
just in Bruges. You may end up eating nothing
but chocolate for your entire visit, and still not hit every single place that
Bruges has to offer. For
those who prefer beer to chocolate, you have your choice of locations to check
out like the De Hlave Maan brewery.
Bruges City in Belgium World Heritage Site of UNESCO
If you have room left for food, there are
numerous five-star restaurants and other great places to eat, including some
that serve delicious waffles, that are easy to find when wondering around
Bruges.
2) Atomium
Atomium was built in 1958 for the world fair held in Brussels that year.
However, it continues to be one of the places to visit in Brussels and Belgium.
Andre Waterkeyn designed the construct, with architects Andre and Jean Polak
constructing the inside.
Atomium in Brussels, Beligum
It is 102 meters high and has many elevators. The design is a unit cell of an
iron crystal magnified to 165 billion times the shape. There are nine, 18 meter
stainless steel spheres connected together with tubes housing enclose access escalators.
Enclosed Escalator Inside Atomium
By Harald Hoyer from Schwerin, Germany (Atomium EscalatorUploaded by russavia),
via Wikimedia Commons
You can go into five of the spheres to look
through exhibit halls and other things. From the top, you can look out over
Brussels. You will not encounter many places like Atomium in your travels around
the world. It is truly a unique structure that will definitely make for an
interesting discussion when you get home. How often do you get to walk around a
humongous atom? When you visit Brussels, you can do it whenever you like. Just
another example of how Belgium is a perfect mixture of medieval architecture and
modern innovation. Brussels is a fantastic look at how the old world meets the
modern world in a visually symphonic manner.
1) Grand Place, Brussels
La Grand Place, also known as Grote Markt, is basically just the town center
square of Brussels. However, it features numerous buildings worth seeing and
must be on your list of places to visit. Many of the buildings date back to the
late 17th century. It provides an eclectic blending of architectural and
artistic styles that really demonstrates the culture and society of Brussels.
Grand Place Beautifully Lit
The buildings in the Grande Place were built for both
public and private use. The significance of this area can be traced back to a
reference in 1174, when it was known as Nedermarckt, or Lower Market. Seven
streets run into this area, creating a market place that was once surrounded by
stalls and houses but now has beautiful buildings. It remained an important
marketplace until 1959. The entire square was actually destroyed in 1695 by a
bombardment by the French army.
Final Thoughts
Belgium is not always at the top of the list of places to visit when people are
touring around Europe. However, it features many beautiful and quaint towns that
are worth a look. Brussels, Belgium's capital, has numerous museums, historical
buildings, and modern marvels. Most tourists begin and end their visit to
Belgium at Brussels on their way to Paris, Amsterdam, or some
other of the must-see cities in Europe. However, those tourists are missing out on so
many experiences. If you have the time, be sure to look further afield and visit
some of these other locations. From medieval towns, to castles, to wonderful
food and drink, you will find something that pleases you. Additionally, you will
know more about Belgium than its wonderful chocolate, beer, waffles, and Pommes
Frites (or French fries as you may know them). Just walking along the beautiful
streets will provide a much more calming experience than some of the bigger and
more touristy cities of Europe. You may never want to leave the beauty of
Belgium, with its perfect mix of history, culture, and modern living. Belgium
truly is a country that mixes the medieval world, with the modern world in a
perfect marriage of visually spectacular attractions.
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