Welcome to fabulous Belgium

Discovery of the country begins with its capital - Brussels. It was chosen by the headquarters of the European Union, the NATO office, the secretariat of the Benelux countries.

 

On the central square of the Grand Place is the Town Hall with a statue of the Archangel Michael, made in the Gothic style, and the Bread House (King's House), where no king ever lived, as well as the Baroque Guild Houses.

 

 

 

 

Traditionally, every two years on August 15, florists of different ages line a huge floral carpet at the Grand Place. The motley canvas (24 by 77 meters) is dominated by begonias due to their resistance to weather conditions. You can admire this spectacle for only a few days, because flowers tend to fade.

 

Not far from the central square stands the famous Peering Boy. Visiting Brussels without visiting the fountain is a crime. The boy who, according to legend, was able to save the city from a fire has an impressive wardrobe of more than 800 outfits. As a matter of fact, the Peering Boy has a friend, a statue of the Peering Girl, which stands a few streets away from him. Moreover, in the city appeared and the Peering dog, which symbolizes the unification of different cultures.

 

 

Very beautiful Cathedral, the Church of St. Catherine, the Church of St. Nicholas. The facade of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula seems to lift it into the sky, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart embodied Art Deco and Neo-Gothic styles.

 

In the center of Brussels there is a park with ponds, cast-iron overpass, sculptures and fountains - a wonderful place where you can walk and relax from the hustle and bustle.

 

Known for Brussels and the futuristic building Atomium. The model of the iron crystal (102 m) was created by the architect Andre Waterkein. In the upper sphere there is a restaurant and an observation deck. In the connecting pipes there are escalators and high-speed elevators. Exhibitions and cultural events are held in the building.

 

 

 

 

The Atomium has a mini-Europe park. It presents the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice, the Acropolis and other cities, buildings and monuments of European countries on a scale of 1:25. Specially planted dwarf trees and shrubs. The park is filled with animations such as trains, mills, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the gondolas of Venice and many others. In a word, unforgettable.

 

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts presents works from different eras, including paintings by Bruegel, Rubens, Bosch, David, works by Surrealists, Impressionists, sculptures by Constantine Meunier - to see everything, one day is not enough. Even if you do not understand art, visiting museums will not leave you indifferent.

 

In Brussels houses are full of pictures from comics. Of course, there was no comic book museum. How else? After all, Belgium is the birthplace of this funny fiction. There is also a celebrity underwear museum in the city. True, there is only one exhibition hall and several dozen exhibits, but each thing was at least once worn by a celebrity. The Belgians have a sense of humor.

 

 

 

 

Of course, you should visit the Chocolate Museum. Belgian chocolate is famous all over the world, and Belgium is a Mecca of chocolate lovers and chocolate addicts.

 

 

 

 

A 30-minute drive from Brussels, tourists are waiting for a miracle - the blue forest of Hallerbos. So wonderful it makes wild hyacinths, which bloom in the second half of April. In the forest there are four walking routes through the most picturesque places. A walk through the beech forest can take from one to several days.

 

From Brussels, you can take a train to Mechelen. Here is the Cathedral of St. Rumold, inscribed in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage and famous for the raspberry bell ringing.

 

The Royal Carillon School (a mechanical musical instrument that is installed on the bell towers) also opens its doors to tourists. Magnificent tapestries are made in Mechelen.

 

 

Back in the train car. And here it is - the northern Venice - the city of Bruges. The historic center of the city is in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Bruges is literally cut by canals. On the main square there is a tower with chimes. The program of the trip will include the Church of Our Lady and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, as well as the Lace Center, where lace is sold.

 

The city has a museum of French fries, chocolate, brewery, the Salvador Dali Museum and the Folklore Museum. Do not miss the opportunity to ride a boat through the canals of the city.

 

 

 

 

Sea resorts on the coast of the North Sea in Belgium are represented by such cities as Ostend, De Panne, Krokke Heist. In Ostend, in addition to the sandy beach, you can look at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which is a smaller copy of Notre Dame, and the Church of Our Lady.

 

The museum-ship Amandine tells about the life of fishermen, introduces the equipment of fishing and gives the opportunity to visit the cockpit of the admiral. On the three-masted sailboat, Mercator has the opportunity to feel like the captain of this vessel, to study it back and forth, to learn about the expeditions in which the ship visited.

 

It is worth visiting the museum inside Fort Napoleon, a military museum from the Second World War. You can ride on the Shore tram, visit the casino and racetrack, walk in the park, buy fresh seafood at the fish market.

 

De Panne, the southernmost seaside resort, is famous for yellow sand beaches and yacht competitions, Plopsaland Park with attractions. In Crocca Heist, the northernmost and most prestigious resort, entertainment such as casinos, restaurants, yacht clubs and surf clubs are popular. There is also a garden of tropical butterflies.

 

The university and cultural center - the city of Ghent - is another popular item on the travelers menu. After all, it is famous for its bright medieval architecture. A visit to the main cathedral of St. Bavo with its columns, frescoes, stained glass windows will be mandatory. Ordering a boat trip, you can see churches, monasteries, shops and museums.

 

 

 

 

And after exploring the city, you can not help enjoying a glass of fresh beer in one of the local pubs.

 

 

 

 

Traditional and revolutionary cuisines collide in Antwerp, there are often festivals dedicated exclusively to the art of cooking. This port and multinational city is stunned by sounds and smells. He tells legends. In winter, a skating rink with a winter bar and a fun fair are arranged in the city. You can ride a Ferris wheel and play mini golf.

 

 

 

 

Feel yourself a special blue blood, plunge into the atmosphere of Gothic horror will allow a tour of the castles of Belgium.

 

Antoine Castle, located in the center of the city of the same name, is made in the neo-Gothic style. There lives the ghost of Baron d'Antoine. Being one of the first owners of the castle, he died in a fire during an attack by the enemy. Since then, his soul wanders around the newly rebuilt castle and scares curious guests.

 

Arenberg Castle east of Brussels in the city of Heverle is known for its sophistication of the late Gothic style. There, tourists are frightened only by students, because the castle is the main building of the engineering faculty of the Catholic University of Leuven.

 

Beløy Castle near the Franco-Belgian border has a second unspoken name, which speaks for itself - "Belgian Versailles". It is surrounded by a park and man-made ponds, and inside is richly decorated, furnished with antique furniture, filled with valuable objects and collections. Festivals are often held in the castle.

 

Bouillon Castle in the Semois Valley is a fortress of Gottfroit of Bouillon. Very colorful, impressive with towers, loopholes, two suspension bridges, moats, dungeons, a torture chamber, dungeons - this is where you can plunge headlong into another era.

 

Walzen Castle in the province of Namur was once built on a rock above the Les River. Inspiring, romantic and inaccessible, it captivates with its beauty.

 

Weinendale, a water castle whose left wing is turned into a museum and open to the public, is located in West Flanders near Bruges. The castle, like most fortresses, is known for a rich history of possession, inheritance, conquest and destructive wars. Nevertheless, thanks to proper care, this fortress delights tourists nowadays with its mysterious and Gothic charm.

 

Haasbek, a castle southwest of Brussels, is also open to the public. Surrounded by a cascade of ponds and parks, inside it welcomes visitors with objects from the 15th-16th centuries from the collection of the Marquis of Visconti, an archive of documents from the 13th-17th centuries. Guerlen fragrances are regularly tasted here, as the company sponsors this beautiful castle.

 

Miranda Castle in the province of Noisy, a neo-Gothic-style castle infamously known as an abandoned castle, was used until 1991 as a children's camp. It's ruined now. The castle itself does not become less popular. Although it is better to admire it exclusively from afar - it is dangerous to be inside again due to the emergency condition.

 

Stan Castle is a fortress in the center of Antwerp, built in the 13th century to repel pirate raids by the Vikings. Located on a picturesque promenade. Today, the National Navigation Museum operates in the castle. Elegant, stately, chambered and refined, he evokes respect and respect for himself.

 

 

 

 

During the trip, it is nice to get acquainted with traditional cuisine. In Belgium, mussels are a traditional dish. It is worth to taste Belgian waffles and order hot chocolate, which is prepared in a special way: a plate with natural Belgian chocolate is put on a cup of hot milk, it melts and drains down with a trickle into the milk, then cream and wu a la are added! Of course, Belgium will delight beer lovers as the country produces more than 900 brands, some over 500 years old. So you will return from the journey full, cheerful and contented.

 

It is not surprising that tourists often bring Belgian chocolate, waffles, beer with them as souvenirs. Popular figures of the Pising Boy, miniatures of the Atomium, Flemish lace and snow balls with sights of Belgium.

 

 

As for hotels, you can stay in the five-star Steigenberger Wiltcher’s, B-aparthotel Grand Place (4 stars) or Best Western Royal Centre (3 stars). In Bruges, five-star "Number 11", "Hotel Portinari" (4 stars), "Martin's Brugge" (3 stars) are popular.

 

In Antwerp, there are five-star Hilton Antwerp Old Town, Hyllit Hotel (4 stars) and Elzenveld (3 stars). Ostend will invite its guests to the Hotel Andromeda, located right on the beach, 200 meters from the Hotel Bero beach or in Die Prince, 1 km from the sea.

 

 

 

 

To fly to Belgium, Russians need a Schengen visa, which can be obtained by contacting the Consulate of Belgium. The flight from Moscow to Brussels will take 3 hours and 45 minutes. A holiday in Belgium at any time of the year will be a real fairy tale in reality, so go ahead! Follow your dreams!

 

Text: Julia Shchepeleva

Photo: tpg, kuku, travelworld, youwebcams, mypleer, chocolatery, gurway, enjourney