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the first time you go to Brussels. You don't have much time
to spend ? Here are the must see attractions you have to visit
while in Brussels !!! |
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Grand Place
One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in
the world", is a phrase often heard when visitors in Brussels
try to describe the beauty of the central market square. Writers
like Victor Hugo and Baudelaire were also struck by the charm
of the market square with its beautiful set of Guild houses
... For
more... click here |
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Maneken Pis
Manneken Pis represents Brussels' spirit of freedom just as
the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty are symbolic to the cities
of Paris and New York. The tiny statue was cast in bronze back
in 1619 by Jerome Duquesnoy but, unfortunately, that statue
was destroyed and another was cast to replace it in 1630. There
are many legends about the Manneken. According to one of them
a little boy had watered against the door of a witch who lived
where the fountain now stands. |
The witch was so angry that she turned the little
boy into a statue. If the sight of manneken-pis inspires you
to new legends, don't hesitate to contact the city authorities!
Location
On the corner of Stoofstraat/Rue de L'Etuve and the Eikstraat/Rue
du Chêne (At the Grand-Place follow the street on the
left side of the town hall) |
La bourse (the stock
exchange)
Architect Léon Suys designed the stately building La
Bourse, the stock exchange, in 1873, in the middle of the new
Boulevards connecting the railway stations. The classic style
is characterised by six Doric columns in front of the building
and different sculptures represent the trade at sea and domestic
trade. This points to the function of La Bourse, namely money
trading.
Location
H. Mausstraat 2 Rue H. Maus Brussel, 1000
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The Sablon Square
The Sablon
is one of the most prestigious and attractive areas in Brussels.
In recent years it has become the center of the antiques shops
and art galleries. The name of this area refers to the time
when it was still situated outside of the city walls of the
12th century. It was originally a sandy road along which people
had access to the city gates. A visit to WITTAMER, the most
exclusive pastry maker in Brussels, is also a must. If you like
chocolate, try Pierre Marcolini chocolate shop... he was winner
of the World Chocolate Championship. |
Mont des arts
The old Mont-des-Arts (Arts Hill) was wholly of stairs, bordered
by statues and trees, and connected uptown (Place Royale) and
downtown (Grand Place). In 1958, the Mont-des-Arts was reshaped
and two enormous, and according to many inhabitants, ugly buildings
arose. One is the the Congress Centre, the other one houses
the Royal Library Albertinum, where nearly 4 million books are
kept. In a part of the library, you can find also an old Dutch
Nassau-chapel. Outside Mont-des-Arts there is a big clock with
moving statuettes. The chimes in the clock play by turns - and
following the good Belgian tradition - a Flemish and a French
song. |
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Palais de Justice
King Leopold II was an ambitious man. He was phenomenally rich
(the Congo was his private property - he left the colony to
Belgium on his death-bed, which turned our country into the
fourth richest in the world!) and tried to turn his capital
into the most impressive in the world. He paid for great monuments,
such as the Parc du Cinquantenaire, out of his own pocket. One
of his favourite architects was Joseph Poelaert (1811-1879),
whom he instructed to build a nice Palace of Justice on Galgenveld
(Gallows Field, indeed the place where criminals used to be
hanged). |
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