What to see
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula sits atop the city’s first settlement of Treurenberg Hill, and its impressive exterior is reminiscent of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This monumental structure is also equally full of history, with its chapel believed to have originally been built in the 8th century for St. Michael. The current church was built 300 years later, in 1047 by Lambart II, Duke of Brabant, and the relics of St. Gudula were placed here. Since that time, it’s been known as the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, and it’s one of the few Gothic cathedrals left in Belgium. Many dukes, archdukes, princes and kings have held their weddings and funerals here, and of course it should be at the top of your list of places to visit in the city.
Royal Palace of Brussels
Construction of the Royal Palace of Brussels (Palais Royal de Bruxelles) began in the 18th century, and was used as a residence by some of the most important names in European and Belgian history. This area was first set aside for the Duke of Brabant in the 11th and 12th centuries. Later, dignitaries such as Emperor Charles V and the Duke of Austria resided here. In the 20th century, King Leopold commissioned the famous Belgian architect Alphonse Balat to remodel the palace more to his own tastes. Take the chance to explore the palace’s interior if you happen to visit on a day when it’s open to the public, but it’s still worth visiting, just to see its magnificent exterior.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
The Parc du Cinquantenaire, or Jubelpark as it’s otherwise known, was planned in 1880 for the National Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence. This is the biggest park in the city, with gardens, ponds, waterfalls and historical sites enjoyed by tourists and the city’s residents alike. The park was designed on a pentagonal plan, and its monumental gate is one of the city’s most important icons. The gate has a view of the Triumphal Arch and three museums on either side. On the left sits Autoworld, which gives insight into the development of the automobile from its inception to the present. On the right is the Military Museum and the Art and History Museum. You can use the Military Museum’s entrance to get through to the Triumphal Arch, climb it, and enjoy great views of the city.
Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum (Musée des instruments de musique de Bruxelles) was established in 1877 when a set of over 100 instruments from India were presented to King Leopold II, giving it a feel quite different from other museums of its kind. Some instruments from its collection originally come from Ancient Egypt, as well as more typical Western instruments, and with headphones you can listen to the sounds of each one. There’s also plenty of information regarding how the instruments are made and how they’re used. The museum has a total of over 8,000 musical instruments, as well as many music books, drawings and biographies of musicians.
Mini-Europe
Mini Europe is an miniature park with about 350 miniature displays on show. It’s supported by the Belgian government and was opened by Prince Philip in 1989, and is set over a 24,000 square meter area. It features some of the most important buildings in Europe, with models of fields, parks, monuments, from the Eiffel Tower to the Acropolis in Athens, from Mount Vesuvius to the houses of British Parliament. The whole park is open, and it was designed to be able to handle the elements. The famous Atomium of Brussels is close by the park, so after you’ve toured the whole of Europe in a matter of hours, it’s a great place to head to next.
Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis (literally “Little man pee”) is one of the most famous sculptures in Brussels and in Belgium, and has been in the same spot since 1618. The influence of this sculpture can be seen all over the city and its reputation exceeds its size – it’s now one of the symbols of the city. While it’s believed the current statue was put in the place of another, it’s not known exactly for what purpose. The most common tale is that it was the gift of a father who lost, and then found his son. Another interesting fact regarding the sculpture is that there have been over 900 sets of clothing made for him, and he’s clothed in these on special occasions. 100 of these outfits can be found at the Brussels City Museum.
Brussels Town Hall
The west wing of the Brussels Town Hall (Hotel de Ville) was built at the beginning of the 13th century, with the east wing added around 50 years later. It’s the most important and oldest building in the Grand Place. In the 18th century the building was restored after it was severely damaged in 1695 by a French bombardment. The 96-meter-tall tower is one of the most notable features of the church. Its west wing was designed by Flemish architect Jacob van Thienen, but its east wing extends out further, making the whole building asymmetrical. The asymmetry is also believed to be part of the reason why the building took so long to build.
Grand Place
Grand Place (meaning Great Square) was the site of the most important food market in the city when it was built in the 13th century. As a result, many of the streets surrounding the market are named after food products like chicken or cheese. Grand Place kept most of its original architecture intact until the French invasion of 1695 after which it was restored in an attempt to retain its original feel, and its historical authenticity has been largely preserved. Grand Place is the center of the city both for residents and tourists, and it’s a popular meeting point. It also hosts events throughout the year, like flower festivals. After you’ve visited all the art centers and things to see in the square, head to one of the quaint little cafés for a cup of coffee to sit, relax and enjoy the city’s atmosphere.
AutoWorld
Autoworld is home to over 400 vehicles, manufactured over the course of the past century, and is a great day out for car enthusiasts. Most of the vehicles on display were manufactured in the United States or in Europe, and there’s even a car which is basically a horse-drawn carriage with an engine added! The vehicles are exhibited in chronological order, and there are also rooms displaying some of the first ever auto parts. Included in the room are some parts of the wedding car that Napoleon received as a gift for his third wedding in 1853. Also on display are some of the first models from some of the most famous manufactures in the world.
Atomium
Atomium was designed by famed Belgian engineer Andre Waterkeyn, and thanks to its unique design and architecture, following the 1958 World’s Fair, it’s become a staple of the tourist route of the city. It’s even known as the “Eiffel Tower of Brussels.” There’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world, making it one of the most popular attractions in the whole city. It’s made of 9 stainless steel spheres each 18 meters in diameter. There’s also more to Atomium than just its unusual appearance – it offers some absolutely breath-taking views of Brussels. There’s a restaurant at the top, so you can enjoy a bite to eat while appreciating the wonderful scenes of the city.
What to eat
Waffles
A few years after World War II, a Brussels resident named Maurice Vermersch and his wife became famous for the recipe they used for their popular waffles, which would become the Belgian waffles we known today. Vermersch called his waffles Bel-Gem Waffles at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, after which it was simplified to Belgian waffles. As you wander the streets of Brussels, you’ll smell waffles being cooked fresh on the waffle irons, so just stop by any of the sellers and sample this traditional treat.
