Belgium
The country is literally speaking a complex of historical monuments and architectural structures, many of which are scattered here and there almost throughout the whole Belgium. In every city of Belgium you can find some ancient cathedrals and fortresses, castles and buildings of the medieval time, those constructions are keeping the memory of the wealth of the medieval of Flanders and the Walloon counties traders.
Brussels is the capital of the ancient Brabant – a city which was cultural and political center of the country and the European Community a long time ago. The oldest part of town Belgians called “Pentagon”, as it is surrounded by circular boulevards built on place of the old fortifications. Most city tours begin with the largest square in the capital – the Grand Place (Grotemarkt or wide area), which is situated in the old town hall “Hotel de Ville with the famous weather vane (of the fifteenth century) on which is drawn St. Michael, striking a dragon. Here it is also situated the Brodhus with the museum of the city of Brussels and a whole block of old buildings, each of which has its own name.
Not far away from the Grand Place, on the street Etui is situated the famous fountain, which became “a business card of the city” – Mannequin Pease (“The Peeing Boy “, of the seventeenth century) and the Palace of Nations (parliament). To the west of the Grand Place it is located the Exchange (which was founded in the year one thousand eight hundreds seventy three), the Monee Opera which is considered as one of the most prestigious stages in Europe, the Rosier square, the Church of St. Catherine which is located on the eponymous square surrounded by old houses of the seventeenth-eighteenth centuries. At the other side of the old channel, just behind the church of St. Catherine, there is a beautiful pedestrian area with the wonderful church of John the Baptist (of the seventeenth century), and two small rectangular ponds, surrounded by big variety of fish restaurants.
belgium
One of the most famous historical places of interest- is the St Hubert Royal Galleries which is situated between the Marché-au-Erb and Ekyuye streets. This is the first architectural complex with arcades in Europe (and it was built in the year one thousand eight hundreds forty seven), in our days it is surrounded by dozens of art galleries, cafes, restaurants and theaters. Not less popular by the visitors of the city is the St. Michael’s cathedral (of the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries.) And the “Classical Block, in which ,there are such famous monuments as the Castle Square to the Royal Palace and to the Palace of Art, the Royal Square, Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, Kokelberg basilica, the church of St. James and the huge Palace of Justice.
On a small, and indeed surrounded from all the sides by museums, Museum Square is located the palace of Charles of Lotaringia and the famous “Failure” – in which are exposed a part of the exhibits of the Museum of Modern Art. To the south of the royal Square are situated the Blocks of the Greater and Lesser Sablon, where it is worth visiting Egmont Castle (eighteenth century) Church Min (the year one thousand seven hundred fifteenth) and the beautiful Gothic church of Notre-Dame de Victor du Sablon (sixteenth century). .
A huge popularity has “The Park of Brussels” –it is the former hunting park of the royal dynasty, and in our days – it is a classic French-style park, which comprises on its territory several picturesque ponds, Royal Palace, the Palace of Justice, the headquarters of Lambert Bank of Brussels, a complex of Parliament (the year one thousand seven hundred eighty), park theater and a lot of beautiful landscape places.
Brussels Grand Place
In the southeast, downtown, very interesting are the squares of Marie-Louise and Ambiorix and also Suansky and Camber forests. Thousands of tourists are attracted by Camber Abbey (of the thirteenth-fourteenth century). In our days here are located the National Geographic Institute and Camber School of Fine Arts) in the area Ixel ponds, as well as Camber Square and the Theatre de Posh.
In the north-east of Brussels very interesting are the Botanical Garden (which was built in the year one thousand eight hundreds twenty nine), a row of fine neoclassical buildings on the street and the area located on the Meridian street which is on the Keitel Square, the Church of Saint-Marie (it was built in the year one thousand eight hundreds forty five), an old Malebeksky Market Hall (now here is the city concert hall),the “Turkish” area between Zhozafat and Philomena streets, the Church of St. Mary and St. Henry, Joseph Park and many other fine buildings, down the hill on the street Eugene Demolder, boulevard and avenue Lumberman UAR-Amour.
The western part of Brussels’ is famous due to the church of Notre-Dame-de-liken and small Lykens cemetery – and a real museum of cemetery art, the palace of Leopold the second (in the eighteenth century) with the unique Royal greenhouses (of the nineteenth century) Brue park ensemble, as well as the famous Atomium – zoomed in several million times the model of the iron molecule , around which is situated the park “Mini Europe” (whose area is nearly – 2.5 ha.), where you can see all the famous cathedrals of the Old World – from the Leaning Tower to Big Ben. Nearby works the year-round tropical swimming pool “Okedium”.
In Anderlecht draw attention to the Museum of Erasmus of Rotterdam (the sixteenth century) it is situated on the Shapiro street, Bissell castle (fourteenth century.) Gaasbeek royal castle, the Astrid park and the famous Constant Van den Stock Stadium.
Among the plenty museums of Brussels’ the most interesting are the Royal Museum of Fine Arts with an extensive collection of masterpieces of world art, from Rubens to Magritte, the Municipal Museum in the building of the Royal Palace (of the sixteenth-eighteenth centuries). The Royal Museum of Army and Military History, the private Museum of cars in the park of “Fifty’s”. The museum of classical art with a splendid collection of Flemish painters, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tool Museum, Porcelain Museum in the Royal Greenhouse, Museum of the Belgian Dynasty, the Royal Museum of Central Africa (it is situated within thirteen kilometers to the east of the city), Wax Museum, the Orta museum, Royal Museum of History and Art (one of the richest collections of Egyptian and antiquities, Chinese and pre-Columbian American art), Museum Marnier, a small museum of Ixelles, Museum of books, the Museum of Aeronautics, Musical Instruments Museum (more than 6 thousand exhibits), a brewery and Cotillion
Antwerp, is the main town of the province with the same name and it is the second largest port in Europe, as well as it is the world’s largest center for diamond cutting. But here are also focused and a lot of cultural monuments and antiquities – Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Museum Mayer van den Berg (“The Museum of Jewelry) – one of the most interesting and richest museums in Antwerp, Museum Planten-Moretus, Rubens house museum, Brabo Fountain (of the nineteenth century ), the Cathedral , Church of St. James and St. Charles Bromes, the royal castle Gaasbeek, the oldest building in the city – the Walls fortress (now the Maritime Museum), St. Charles and James, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Sculpture at Middle hem, Museums of Folk Art and Ethnography ;Museum “Residence of virgins “, Folklore Museum, Museum of Archaeology and Applied Arts, Opera and Ballet of Flanders, Diamond Museum and the famous Antwerp Zoo. Also thousands of tourists are attracted by a pedestrian street Hoogstraat, house of noble man (seventeenth century), Grote Markt- central square, a picturesque seafront and South Terrace of the Scheldt (which is situated on the left bank of the Scheldt, and was built up on the project of Corbusier).
brugge-belgium
In the Meir region are placed many commercial buildings, and also the old Royal Palace (of the eighteenth century), Bore bond tower – the first skyscraper of Belgium, the Stock Exchange, the church of St. James (the seventeenth century) and the St. Augustine, the great rotunda of the Birla theater (old footwear market).
In the north of the old city are interesting a few of the old pools and the Church of St. Paul. South Block is famous for its beautiful squares and Leopold Vaal plats the esplanade of the Museum of Fine Arts, Flemish and Walloon bays, a full cultural life. There are a lot of art galleries, in the old grain warehouse on Levenstraat street is situated the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Photography.
The city has a great variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment places. Especially popular are the “entertainment district” in Central Square and the railway station.
Near Antwerp it is also interesting to see the modern cultural complex “Sigel”, the house Guyed (designed by Le Corbusier) and the Town Hall Borger haut with forty seven bells on Moorhens plane. In Darn there are two castles; one of which are – Sterkhofe – a museum of arts and crafts, and also it is known due to one of the most beautiful parks in Belgium, famous for its ponds and ancient trees. The Middleheym park it is located an open-air museum, where on a giant lawn are stretched landscape compositions, and the entire exhibition of contemporary sculpture. The Lear city is famous for its astronomical clock, the old Zimmer Tower and a ring of fortifications in the sixteenth century. Nearby it is stretched the Nature Reserve Kalmthaut (861 ha), which is protecting the relict landscape of sand dunes (“landscape”), it is surrounded by moors and pine forests. Ghent, is the capital of East Flanders, and it is ranked as first in the country by number of magnificent old buildings. Historical monuments are concentrated mainly in the center, museums are located in the southern part of the city and western suburbs are taken by the employed workers and the industrial district.
The heart of the city – is the reservoir from which departs the Veldstraat street. Here it is located one of the city symbols – the St. Michael’s bridge, which is thrown across the Lees channel, as well as the watch tower and Lakenhall (indoor cloth market of the fifteenth century). The oldest block in Ghent, which made it in a perfect condition till nowadays. The Patershol, which was built up with houses of the sixteenth centuries there nowadays t are restaurants, antique shops and other commercial buildings.
The main attractions of Ghent are -St Bovona Cathedral (twelve century) which was draw by Van Eyck, St. Nicholas Church, the Graslin old houses street, Tower of the University Library (sixty four meters), St. Peter Abbey (seventeenth century), the main city square – Vriydagmarkt (“Friday Market”), the palace of the van der Meyers (seventeenth century), the Royal Palace on Breydelstraat, surrounded by magnificent homes of the aristocracy at the Town Hall Hoogpoort, the old fortified gateway Works, Count Philipp Castle( twelve century.) and Gerard the Devil’s Castle (twelve century.) Church of St. James, the old (Convent of the Order Beguines) St. Elizabeth’s around the same name of the church, the Church of St. Michael’s Abbey Belloc (fourteenth -seventeenth centuries., now here it is the Archeological Museum), Museum of Modern Art with an extensive collection of old Flemish “(fifteen-sixteen centuries.) Festive hall and an old printing press” Voruit” and a strict Opera House on Brabant dam.
People who like strolling through museums, will find a lot of interest – in the Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Arts Museum, Folklore Museum in the old hospice building on Kinder-Alan, and pedestrian street Veldstraat, where old houses and private mansions of the eighteenth century are situated along with fashionable shops, and into magnificent Scheldt coast. Quite close to the city are situated Laarne Castle and Ooydonk Castle
Bruges is the capital of West Flanders and the famous medieval shopping center – which is a wonderful facility to visit. The most interesting part of the city is between the railway station, the main square and market. It is interesting to visit the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts (the famous Museum of Groningen), and Hans Memling Museum in the building of the hospital , the old market square with buildings of the thirteen century and a magnificent eighty three-meter high lookout tower. A large pedestrian area of the Sand, the Cathedral of St. Salvador with extensive Cathedral Museum, the Gothic church, the Church of St. James, St. Valpurgii, St. Anne, St. Gilles, and Jerusalem, gothic ensemble Cloth series, the ancient city gate Ezelpoort, Gentpoort and Smedenpoort, the Basilica of the Blood of Christ and the Monastery, City Hall, Justice Palace and the Basilica of Saint-Sang in the Burg Square.
The unique historical heritage legacy includes the Centre of lace, the still working mill of the Holy Janus (which was built in the year one thousand seven hundreds seventy), as well as eighty bridges over the picturesque canals and more than two thousands of other attractions.
The so called “Hot City” Liege –is the largest and one of the oldest towns in Wallonia. Here in the first place it is worth visiting the square of St. Lambert, at the Palace des Prince-Bishop, the Museum of Walloon Life and the Museum of Walloon Art, see Hall and the Church of St. James, as well as the ancient symbol of the independence of the city – Peron (fountain and a tower with four lions), which is located on Market Square.
Not less interesting is the church of St. Antoine, the Baroque church of the Atonement, an ancient monastery Frere-Miner with a lot of interesting museums, the courtyard of Le-Temple and picturesque impasses, “Liege miracle” – baptismal font with biblical scenes in the church of St. Bartholomew, St. Serve Church ,a large noisy crush on the Bat Bay, the bridge of St. Leonard’s with the white and red house of Curtis, the church of Saint-Deny, Cathedral of St Paul’s Square, with the famous statue of “Delcar Virgin” and the oldest in Belgium Le Monnier Passage .
Worth visiting Isere area with the De la Plus theater, the famous Diver circus, Frank Bridge, Park D `Avro, the Chapel of the Holy Communion on the hill of St. Martin with 12 medallions, Glass Museum (more than nine thousands of exhibits), Museum of Religious Art, Armory Museum, Ansemburg Museum, Aquarium and Zoological Museum.
For five centuries the former capital of the Spanish Netherlands and the birthplace of Beethoven – Malines, famous for its bells and architecture. Here it is interesting to see one of the oldest buildings in the city – Shepenheys, Hall, St. Rhomboids Cathedral, the Palace of Margaret of Austria – Palace of Justice , Royal Lyceum, the Baroque church of St. Peter , the palace of Margaret of York (now – City Theatre). Municipal Museum, the Toy Museum and Folklore Museum of traditional crafts, etc.
One of the leading tourist centers of Belgium -is a small town of Waterloo, a place where the famous battle between Napoleon’s army and troops of Wellington was held. All the attractions of the city are “devoted” to the event – the headquarters of Napoleon, the Museum of Wellington, with the Lion Hill Visitor Center, Panorama, Wax Museum and the Church of St. Joseph.
Not less interesting are the “city of churches” Tourna, ancient Mons, medieval Binche, where now takes place the famous Carnival, the birthplace of the Caroling dynasty – Charleroi, capital Toudini, the edges of the ancient abbeys – Tuyen, the oldest city in the country – Tongeren, who reached the Julius Caesar times, “Namur” the tin capital of the country “, Yi a famous spa resort, the first capital of the Duchy of Brabant – Leuven, an old imperial capital of Flanders – Aalst,” the city released cats Ypres, ‘Flanders Texas” – Kortrijk and many other equally charming places.
But the pride of the Country – is the Great Ardennes forest on the border with Germany and Luxembourg, where the travelers are being awaited by the grotto of Neptune in a half-hour drive of Charleroi, the grotto, “A Thousand and One Nights”, near La Roche, the rock citadel of Dinant and many other beautiful places in the environment almost untouched nature there are also some ancient monasteries and the traces of recent wars.