Brussels travel pictures

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Sightseeing in Brussels

Brussels or Bruxelles is not only the capital of Belgium but also of the European Union. Despite its political importance it is not the most visited city in Europe, but for those who do make it over here, there are many things to see and do. It is a city with just over 1 million inhabitants which is enough to make it feel big and small enough that it can be easily visited. Officially it is bilingual, but Walloon (French) is the most prominent language.

One of the key sights to see in Brussels is the statue of 'Manneken Pis' which is famous around the world and strongly associated with Brussels. Many people are surprised by the small size of the statue when seeing it for the first time. The statue is often dressed up for special occasions.

The main square in the city center is the architectural marvel of Grand place square which is surrounded by differently styled guild houses. This part probably represent architecture in Belgium at its best and the whole place has been carefully preserved throughout the years. Often there are activities going on, but if not then there are several beer gardens which are open on a sunny day. Some other noticeable sighs are the Palace of Justice which has an impressive appearance and the Royal Palace which has a surprisingly nice park next to it.

Spread throughout the city center are several religious buildings worth seeing such as the cathedral of St. Michel and Gudele and the Eglise St. Jacques sur Coudenberg. Most of these places are within walking distance of each other. To get away from the noise of the city a can visit the Parque du Cinquantenaire is the best choice. In this park is the triumphal arch located which was built to commemorate the Belgium independence and is one of the most impressive monuments of the city.

Outside of Brussels there are two sights worth visiting which are the Atomium and the Basilica of the sacred heart. The Atomium is a large structure which was built for the 1958 expo world fair and appears like large balls which are connected by rods. It was originally built to rival the Eiffel tower and the inside of the structure can be visited. The Basilica of the sacred heart is just a massive church of 89 meters high. Most interestingly is its Art Deco style.

Because Belgium is a compact country and Brussels is located only one or two hours away from most other interesting cities there are plenty of day trips possible. The obvious one is Antwerp which is a beautiful city with a large historical heart. Other options include the charming city Ghent, the bridges and canals of Bruges or the student town Leuven. They can all be reached directly by train.

The weather in Brussels is seasonal like the rest of Europe meaning that the best time to visit is from April to September. During the rest of the year it rains a considerable amount and the weather is unpredictable. Although being in the northern half of Europe this doesn't guarantee sunny summers and there are several clear days in the winter. Brussels is connected by air to most cities in Europe. It also has the high speed trains which link it to Paris and London. To get around Brussels the best way is to walk. It also has an excellent public transportation network that consists of a metro, trams and buses to cover longer distances. Apparently the metro has over 60 works of art in it.

Brussels travel photo gallery

Saint Hubertus gallery.	Inside the Cathedral of St. Michel and Gudule.	Interior of Cathedral of St. Michel and Gudule.	The Belgium photo galleries that are available: Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels and Leuven.
Cathedral of St. Michel and Gudule.	Triumphal arch and horseshoe-shaped arcade of Parque du Cinquantenaire.	Triumphal arch in a park.
Parque du Cinquantenaire.	Triumphal arch.	Triumphal arch.
Parque du Cinquantenaire.	Back of the triumphal arch in Parque du Cinquantenaire.	Monument in Parque du Cinquantenaire.
Northern Bordiau Hall.	Palais Mondial (South Hall).	Art museum.
Temple of Human Passions in Parque du Cinquantenaire.	Church of St. Jacques of Coudenberg.	Mont des Arts (Mountain of art).
Fountain in the historical center.	Eglise St. Jacques sur Coudenberg.	Royal building.
Building of the European parliament.	EU parliament building.	European quarter.
Great market, grande place or grote markt.	The historical great market square.	Brussels city hall.
Spire which tops the city hall.	Guild houses on the great market square.	Guild houses.
Impressive guild houses on the Great Market square.	Old historical building on the great market.	Maison du Roi.
Great market square during sunset.	The bread house.	Guild houses in the evening.
Guild houses on the Grote markt.	Great market square.	Office building in the European quarter.
Historical old town.	View over the hill of arts.	Statue.
Manneken pis.	Manneken pis (Mr. Wee) taking a big wee.	Historical old building.
Church entrance with stone carvings.	Back of the Cathedral of St. Michel and Gudule.	Old building.
Palace of justice.	Belgium parliament building.	Royal Palace.
Front facade of the Royal Palace.	Royal Palace.	Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
	Large and impressive Basilica of the Sacred Heart outside of Brussels.