When in Brussels
One of the oldest cities in Europe, it is no surprise that the heart of Brussels has some wonderful historic venues for visitors to enjoy.
Despite being over 1,000 years old, however, Brussels is still changing and reinventing itself to keep up with the modern world. Now the heart of the European Union, complete with Eurostar terminal, Brussels has embraced the 21st century and is becoming a centre of opportunity for many.
With its growing confidence and wealth comes an increase in tourist numbers, keen to find out more about the centre of European politics as well as to learn about the country's history.
The capital of Belgium, Brussels is not only the seat of European power but is home to the country's main legislative bodies and the Belgian royal family. Situated in the Flemish region of Belgium, the city is bilingual, with all signs and information provided in both French and Flemish. While some may say this is simply to confuse visitors, a trip to the region in which the European Union institutions are housed will only prove more surprising, as signs here can often be found in a whole host of European languages!
The old town of Brussels, in the centre of the city, is relatively small, allowing visitors to easily walk around it without any trouble. This part of the city is centred on the most famous square in the city ? the Grand Place. All around this square are opulent and picturesque buildings, which were established by the various gilds of Brussels. It seems that, during the city's heyday as a centre of trade for Europe, the gilds were keen to show their own importance and outdo each other's buildings, resulting in some wonderfully ornate and incredibly beautiful buildings.
Taking centre-stage here, however, must be the superb gothic city hall. Beautifully lit at night but equally as impressive during the day, the town hall's central spire reaches up into the sky, while its main body seems almost too big for the square. Plenty of tourists can usually be seen desperately trying to find an angle to fit it all in, but no picture can really do this splendid building justice.
Away from the centre of Brussels, there is the EU Quarter, where the European buildings are congregated. Generally bereft of people on the weekend, this area comes alive when the work of the EU is taking place inside and although there are few shops to browse, there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to enjoy.
Further away from the city centre is the Heysel region of Brussels. Here visitors can enjoy the Bruparck amusement park, which is most famed for being the host to the Mini-Europe exhibition. Also nearby here is the Atomium, a giant building in the shape of a steel atom, with corridors connecting the nine spheres.
Travellers to Brussels who are staying at the city for some time will also find it ideally placed to enjoy excursions to other parts of Belgium, including Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent, meaning visitors can use Belgium's excellent transport links to discover different areas of the country.
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Introduction
