Today I will tell you about the Belgian capital. I had the chance to visit Brussels a few weeks ago and I was quite pleasantly surprised by this city. For information Brussels is the capital of Belgium with 1,3 million inhabitants.
The Grand-Place in Brussels
Let's start this little visit by the grand place of Brussels. This square is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world, even being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on this square that most of the important events in Brussels take place. You will find many very imposing monuments there. The main ones are the king's house and the town hall.
Brussels City Hall
The king's house
The facades of this square are truly magnificent. Worked in detail, these facades in relief are impressive by their sculptures which adorn them. For beer lovers, you will also discover the beer museum where you can, for 5 euros, taste a few beers.
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Le Manneken Pis
Now let's go a few miles away and head to the intersection of rue de l'étuve and rue du Chêne, where the most famous Belgian statue is located: Le Manneken Pis. If you're expecting a nice, big statue, you might be disappointed. This statue of about fifty centimeters symbolizes the open-mindedness of the people of Brussels. The Manneken Pis is regularly dressed in different outfits for certain special occasions.
Royal Palace of Brussels
Another place to see during your visit to Brussels, the royal palace. An impressive building that once served as the home of King William I of the Netherlands. If you decide to walk around this area, do not hesitate to take a walk in the palace park located just opposite.
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
If you are a fan of visiting churches or cathedrals, I advise you to visit the Saints Michel and Gudule cathedral. I'm usually not a fan of this kind of place, so it was with a bit of reserve that I decided to visit this cathedral and I must admit that this visit was rather surprising. The size of this building is very impressive, moreover the interior is very neat and the organ which is there is quite spectacular.
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Brussels museums
As in many European capitals, there are many museums in Brussels. I had the chance to visit the comic strip museum that I will present to you soon in an article dedicated to this purpose. For information, the main museums of the city are, this famous comic book museum, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Brussels, the Brussels City Museum where you will find, among other things, all the costumes carried by the Mannekan-Pis, the museum of musical instruments in Brussels or even the fiftieth anniversary museum.
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Visiting Brussels: Getting there and getting around
To get to Brussels, several solutions: the road of course, the train can also prove to be a good plan. A few rather cheap direct TGV lines will get you there. Depending on where you leave the bus from Lille is a rather nice low-cost solution. If you are coming from further afield, Brussels has two airports. One very close to the center, located to the northeast, the other slightly further, about sixty kilometers away, Charleroi will allow you to travel with low-cost companies. Note the proximity to the city of Antwerp which also has an airport and turns out to be a very pleasant city which will be the subject of a future article. To get around the city, metros and buses are available, but the size of the city will allow you to get around on foot without too much difficulty.
To conclude, I would say that visiting Brussels was very pleasant for me. It's a really surprising city. A capital on a human scale, very pleasant to visit. Beyond these many monuments to see, it is good to stroll through the streets and stop in a square or on the terrace of a café. If you are a fan of beer, then you have to taste the many Belgian beers that make Belgium famous.
