Marvelous attractions in Brussels
Brussels has some marvelous tourist attractions, including world-class museums and landmarks. Following are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Brussels.
Grand Place
Under the shadow of the city tower, Grand Place is the central square of Brussels. It is framed by rows of beautiful 18th century baroque buildings and elegant restaurants. At night, soothing lights illuminate the square and reveal the buildings in breath-taking detail as a music and light show sets the mood in the background. Grand Place is tucked under the old town and tourists will have to go through narrow alleys to find it, a short journey that further adds to the Grand Palace allure.
Cinquantenaire Museum
Know officially as the Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire or the Royal Museum of Art and History, the Cinquantenaire Museum contains an amazing 350,000 artifacts from all over the world. Its most impressive exhibits include arts, crafts, jewelry and other artifacts from the Merovingian civilization. Built in 1835, the Cinquantenaire Museum is located at Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, EU Area.
Gravensteen Castle
In the 12th century, the counts of Flanders launched their reign of terror from Gravensteen Castle, which is fortified with its own moat and turrets. Also known as the Count’s Castle, it now houses a unique museum that houses weapons, uniforms and other memorabilia and exudes a macabre appeal. At night, under the dim lights, imaginative guests can easily transport themselves back to the Medieval Ages. Gravensteen Castle is located at St Veerleplein, Ghent.
Menin Gate
Located at Centre ville, Ypres, Menin Gate is a sad monument to World War I. The giant white gate carries the names of over 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops who died or disappeared at the Flanders trenches. At 8 p.m. every night, traffic in the area stops as buglers play the Last Post.
Manneken Pis
This statue is one of the best landmarks to the city’s irreverent spirit. It features a small boy peeing. According to one of the many stories about the statue’s origin, the boy was in a tree, trying to drive invading forces away.
Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts
The Place Royale-Koningsplein is located at Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten, Rue de la Régence-Regentschapstraat 3. It houses two complementary museums, the Museum of Historical Art and the Museum of Modern Art and brings historical and modern art under one roof. Most of the exhibits contain Belgian works from the 14th to 20th century. Among the most stunning works are 15th century paintings by Hans Memling, Hiëronymus Bosch, and Lucas Cranach. The works of Pieter Brueghel such as “Adoration of the Magi” and “Fall of the Rebel Angels” are dark and stirring. Rubens, Rembrandt, Matisse, Van Gogh, Chagall, Dali, Miro and Ernst are also represented here.
Natural Sciences Museum of Belgium
Located at Rue Vautier 29, the Natural Sciences Museum of Belgium has a vast collection of mammals and the world’s largest collection of iguanodons dinosaurs. Children enjoy the exhibit that features animals found around the house.
Horta Museum
The home of Belgian architect Victor Horta lived is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and museum that honors the man who introduced art noveau architecture to Brussels. It is located at 25 rue Américaine, Saint-Gilles.
Maison de la Bande Dessinée
This permanent exposition traces the birth and development of comics and has samples of the earliest and most popular comic books. Some of them are for sale or may be read for free. Surprisingly, there are just as many adults browsing here as kids. Maison de la Bande Dessinée is located inside the shopping mall at Bd de l'Impératrice 1. Incidentally, this shopping mall is the oldest one in Europe, known as a shine Jugendstil palais
Autoworld
Located at Parc du Cinquantenaire 11, Autoworld features a vast collection of automobiles throughout history, including the first Mercedes and Renaults. The Ford T-birds and BMW Isettas are impressive. They even have a jeepney from the Philippines.
Chao Chow Palace Hotel
