Unusual places in Brussels. Brussels: my impressions or what is important to note? Royal Museum of Fine Arts

Brussels is the capital of Belgium, located on the River Senne. However, architectural sights cover the river, as a result of which it ceases to be visible to visitors. The population of the city exceeds 1.1 million people.

The historic center and heart of the city is the Grand Place, surrounded by amazing buildings. From here you can start walking, but you should not stop here.

Brussels surprisingly combines the desire to preserve the historical and cultural heritage with constant development.

The “visiting card” of Brussels is the sculpture “Manneken Pis”. The composition is a bronze statue-fountain.

The exact time of the creation of the sculptural composition is unknown. However, there is information confirming that the statue existed even in the 15th century. To our days, various legends have appeared, the authenticity of which will never be verified. However, the most important is the fact that the sculpture attracts increased attention of tourists from around the world.

Location: Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat (their intersection).

Mini-Europe Park presents miniature copies of all the famous sights of Europe. In just a few hours, tourists get the opportunity to get an impression of almost all famous sites in Europe. The number of exhibits reaches about 300, but at the same time they are scaled down 1/25 to the original size. This park is unique.

Location: Bruparck.

Atomium is unique sculpture, symbolizing the scientific and technical process. The attraction was established in 1958, and this significant event was timed to coincide with the World Exhibition.

Atomium Features:

• The object is an iron crystal lattice magnified 165 billion times.
• The structure has 9 balls, each of which represents an iron atom.
• As a connection, long and wide pipes are used, which are unique corridors and escalators.

This performance of Atomium becomes a worthy personification of atomic energy. In this case, 9 atoms are the provinces of Belgium.

If desired, tourists can not only see the Atomium, but also visit the equipped observation deck, from where a beautiful panorama opens.

Location: Square de l'Atomium.

The Town Hall in Brussels, located on the main square of the Grand Place, was built in the 15th century. The builders managed to implement the best principles of the Brabant Gothic, thanks to which the architectural design of the sights still leaves best experience.

At the very top of the tower of the Town Hall there is a 5-meter statue of the Archangel Michael, who defeats the devil.

In 1998, the Town Hall and the Grand Place were included in the list of UNESCO sites. Today, the mayor's residence operates in the building, but the city administration is located on Anspash Boulevard. Visitors can visit the building and appreciate the halls decorated with tapestries and gilded mirrors.

Location: Grand Place - 8.

The Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula began to be built in 1226. The first brick was laid by the Duke of Brabant, Henry I. However, construction activities were completed only during the reign of Charles V. The image of the temple, which has been preserved to this day, was embodied thanks to the project developed by Jean van Rusbreck.

Features of the execution of the cathedral:

• Successful implementation of the principles of Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance styles;
• Two towers that are different gothic style and symmetrical arrangement;
• Large central portal decorated with statues of saints.
• beautiful terrace.
• Forged reliefs adorn powerful doors, contributing to the creation of a strict appearance of the temple.
• The interior decoration surprises with its luxury: stained glass windows, an oak altar with copper figures.

The amazing beauty of the cathedral was consecrated in honor of St. Michael, recognized as the patron saint of Brussels.

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Belgian monarch. The attraction is located in the city center, or rather, between the Brussels Park and the Palace Square. The royal family lived here, but now only audiences and official events are held here to resolve state issues.

The palace and terraces are open to tourists only from late July to early September. It is at this time that it is allowed to independently assess the greatness of all rooms and halls. Particularly noteworthy are the Mirror Room, the Throne Room, the Imperial Room, and the Celebration Hall.

Location: Rue Brederode - 16.

The Palace of Justice in Brussels is the main judicial chamber in Belgium. The attraction dates back to the 19th century. The complex currently includes:

• 8 yards.
• 27 large halls.
• 245 small rooms.

For many tourists, the Palace of Justice turns out to be a worthy landmark in Brussels.

Location: Place Poelaert - 1.

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is considered one of the most important architectural landmarks in Belgium. It is important to note that the name French translated as "Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus".

It took more than 60 years to build. The final finishing measures were completed only in 1969.

Today, the Art Deco basilica impresses with its whimsical exterior walls, original bell towers and domes. More than 2 thousand people can be in the church at the same time.

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is not only a cathedral, but also a museum center, an exhibition area, a lecture hall and even a concert venue thanks to its decent acoustics.

Location: Parvis de la Basilique - 1.

The House of the Dukes of Brabant is a building made in a classical style, taking into account the Flemish traditions. Despite the name of the attraction, the dukes never lived here. It is interesting that several houses are hidden behind a rich facade, which belonged to different guilds and were even famous under different names.

Location: Grand-Place - 15.

Exhibition for the museum military history began to create in the distant 1830. Nowadays there are over 2000 valuable items. At the same time, the exposition includes ancient weapons, interesting objects military equipment, protective equipment. As a result, the Royal Museum of Military History is considered one of the most interesting not only in Belgium, but throughout the world.

Location: Parc du Cinquantenaire - 3.

The Mount of Arts is an important historical site in central Brussels. The complex consists of Royal Library Belgium, the State Archives and the landscape garden, recognized as a worthy observation deck.

Story unique place began to develop at the end of the 19th century, when it was decided that the densely populated area of ​​Brussels should be turned into the Mount of Arts. To do this, it was necessary to buy out the whole district and demolish all the buildings. However Money was not enough to implement a large-scale project, as a result of which the territory turned into a banal void. To improve the situation, a green garden was created, which has been preserved to this day. Only later did important sights appear.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is an opportunity to see amazing paintings and truly amazing sculpture.

The museum center is dedicated to old and modern art, the works of painters and sculptors from Belgium. At the same time, the exhibits reveal the features of the development of creativity from the 15th century to the present day. Currently, the exposition includes more than 20 thousand paintings.

Location: Rue de la Régence - 3.

The Black Tower is the remaining fragment of the old city wall in Brussels. Last city ​​wall It was built in the XII century, and it was destroyed during the bombing in 1695. The black tower is surrounded by a built building that perfectly complements the architectural appearance.

The Black Tower is distinguished by the following features of its execution:

• The main materials are hewn stone and sandstone.
• The lower part is partially covered with ivy.
• On the first floor there are narrow and high openings.
• On the second floor there are loophole windows with protruding cornices;
• The building is adorned with a 2-pitched roof.
• The shape of the tower is semicircular.

The Autoworld Museum is dedicated to vintage cars. The current exposition includes hundreds of rare cars and motorcycles.

All museum exposition divided into the following thematic areas:

• Sports cars.
• Microcars.
• Ecological machines.
• Public transport.
• Cars of famous people.
• Motorcycles.

Anyone who is fond of the automotive and motorcycle world will appreciate the museum.

Location: Parc du Cinquantenaire - 11.

50th Anniversary Park was founded in 1880. On the territory of the park complex there are architectural and cultural values giving a special touch to the area. The entrance is made in the form of the Arc de Triomphe, which is distinguished by the presence of various sculptures and a quadriga.

On the territory of the park complex there are various museums, the Great Mosque of Brussels and the Temple of Human Passions. In fact, even landscaped alleys and beautiful flower beds leave the best impression of yourself.

The Museum of Musical Instruments has existed since 1876. The number of exhibits is constantly growing, and today their number is approaching 7 thousand. It is interesting to note that musical instruments with different corners peace. Visitors can see not only original instruments, but also primitive rattles. If you wish, you can hear the sounds of different exhibits live.

During the war periods that fell on the 20th century, the museum temporarily lost its popularity. However, active work was resumed in the 1960s, and nowadays musical evenings are periodically held here.

Location: Rue Montagne de la Cour - 2.

The Stoclet Palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century by order of the banker Adolf Stoclet.

Features of the execution of the palace:

• Multilevel building.
• The presence of a rectangular tower.
• The presence of a brick dome, made in the form of a hemisphere and characterized by strict geometric shapes.

The interior and exterior decoration of the palace, the garden are created in the same style. The Palais Stoclet, together with the garden, was officially included in the list in 2009 world heritage UNESCO. The palace can only be viewed from the street, as it still belongs to the Stoclet family.

Location: Avenue de Tervuren, Stoclet Palace, 279-281.

Belgium is famous for making beer. Not surprisingly, the brewing museum reveals the peculiarities of the Belgian folk craft and is dedicated to the Guez variety, which appeared thanks to the local company Cantillon brewery. The museum was founded with the aim of consumer awareness, preserving traditions.

Museum visitors can see the tools and objects that are used to make beer. Guided tours and tastings are regularly held here. In addition, tourists can buy their favorite beer. Such activities of the museum play an important gastronomic and cultural role.

Location: Grand-Place - 10.

Gaasbeek Castle is located in the commune of Lennick near Brussels. Ponds, natural and parterre parks adjoin the castle complex. The general public is allowed to take a closer look at the sight.

The history of Gaasbek began in the 13th century. The castle was built for protection purposes and belonged to the counts of Gaasbeck until the French Revolution. In 1388, the castle was destroyed by local residents in order to take revenge on the owner, who somehow annoyed the people.

In 1889, the castle was restored in modern form. At the beginning of the 20th century, the object passed into state ownership, after which it began to serve as a museum.

Location: Kasteelstraat - 40.

The Palace of the Nation belongs to the federal parliament of Belgium. The palace is located next to the Royal Park. Construction took place between 1778 and 1783. At the same time, it was possible to implement the best principles of the neoclassical style. At the same time, the Palace of the Nation is located directly opposite the Royal Palace, as a result of which an impeccable architectural appearance is created.

Location: Rue de Louvain - 11.

Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium, but also truly significant city throughout Europe. Numerous sights emphasize the peculiarity of the local architecture, which delights even experienced tourists.

And it's not fair. Strange thing, and our guide when we went to Brussels, advised not to go into it at all, but to go straight to Bruges, frightened by a myriad of gypsies on the main square, and in principle, to put it mildly, did not speak flatteringly about the city in which the headquarters of the European Union is located, stating: “What union, such and the capital" 🙂

Panorama of the Old City of Brussels

"Eagle and Tails" also devoted their issue to Brussels how uninteresting and not very beautiful here.

We are in Brussels were, walked around it, saw a lot of things and we can say with confidence that this is the cutest town in which ancient buildings are combined with modern, sometimes strange, architecture, but we love eclecticism (actually, Brussels far from Moscow with its mixture of all possible trends in architecture), so we liked the city.

Here is what is possible must see in Belgian capital:

Central square - Grande Place

Central square of brussels— grande palace Grote Markt), is called the most beautiful square in Europe, and rightly so, every building around it is a work of art. So what is here:

City Hall- a building with a high tower and a beautiful courtyard, do not be lazy, go there - very nice fountains and flower beds.

City Hall on the Grand Place

House of the King. It used to be a bakery, now it's Museum of Belgium, in general, despite the name, the king never lived here, he has a separate solid housing - the Royal Palace.

Facade of the King's House (left)

Houses of wealthy citizensXVII- the square was once destroyed by French troops, and those who undertook to restore it, in fact, built their own houses on it - it turned out beautifully.

flower shops. Yes, there is a wonderful, world-famous Brussels tradition - every 2 years to cover the entire square with a flower carpet. But, at a time when there is no carpet, it is still beautiful here, because many shops selling flowers and lush bouquets are displayed in special boxes, right on the square.

Tip from our guide - no matter how impressed you are grande place , anyway, do not forget about vigilance and do not lose sight of your bags / backpacks, especially if there are some valuables there, or better not at all, do not take anything valuable for this walk - on the main square Brussels, indeed, there are quite a lot of dubious people like gypsies and people from the East and Africa. There were many cases of theft of money, phones and photographic equipment. This does not mean that the most beautiful square in Europe is a hotbed of theft, just be careful.

Lookouts in Brussels

1.Very beautiful views of brussels open from observation deck Basilicas of the Sacré Coeur(Basilique du Sacré-Coeur) - the full namesake of the snow-white Parisian church in Montmartre.

Brussels Sacré-Coeur impresses with its size, stained-glass windows and dome (by the way, it is included in the 10 largest churches in the world). The building is quite new - its construction ended only 50 years ago. Entrance to the church is free, climbing to the observation deck costs - 5 euro. I am glad that you need to climb not on the stairs, but conveniently and comfortably - on the elevator.

Basilica of the Sacré Coeur located next to the famous Atomium, that is, a little far from historical center, so it's better to get to it by metro (Station Simonis)

2. An impressive panorama of the city can be seen from a place called Mountain of arts. Once it was a wasteland between royal palace And grande place- the old buildings were demolished, and somehow the hands did not reach the construction of new ones. The issue had to be resolved before the World Exhibition of 1910, which was hosted by Brussels - not comme il faut, after all, for guests to see this incomprehensible, unaesthetic place. Hastily laid out a garden, descending in tiers from the hill, installed flower beds, fountains. Everything turned out so well that it remained so Mount Arts garden, in which both tourists and locals like to relax, and from which, opens beautiful view on central part Brussels.

View of Brussels from the Mount of Arts

By the way, your name Mount Arts fully justifies - very close to it are located Museum of the artist Rene Magritte, Royal Museum of Fine Arts And Museum of Musical Instruments. Mount Arts, so to speak, is surrounded by works of art.

3. Observation deck in the upper sphere Atomium- an unusual and very famous Brussels structure, resembling an iron atom enlarged at times. This place is now one of the symbols Brussels. Unusual, modern, definitely worth a visit.

Atomium

In addition to the view that opens on the whole city, there are also exhibition halls, a restaurant (albeit an expensive one), and a souvenir shop. And the spheres are interconnected Atomium escalators that pass through beautifully illuminated corridors and are accompanied by unusual sounds. In general - a bit of space and modern art.

Ticket price for the Atomium – 11 euro. You can, right here, at the box office Atomium, buy a combo ticket to visit and Atomium and very close Park "Mini-Europe", which, as the name implies, is a reduced layout of the entire Old World.

Manneken Pis and Company

This landmark of brussels We, like many others, did not understand. Why is she famous, what is so special about her? The miniature inconspicuous monument of the Manneken Pis quite rightly enters the top of the most disappointing sights of the World. But the Belgians themselves are simply obsessed with it - not only in Brussels, but also in other cities of Belgium, you can find mountains of souvenirs with this little boy. Magnets, mugs, corkscrews (yes, the corkscrew itself is the causal place), just glass and porcelain figurines.

Brussels did not stop at pissing boy(after all, feminism, all things) and erected a monument to a pissing girl, and later, apparently at the request of animal lovers, also a pissing dog. Rumor has it that the people of Brussels are not going to stop there and are going to erect a monument to a pissing cow (dedicated to some special breed of Belgian cows).

Here is such a story. For all lovers of such oddities, we report the addresses of scribblers:

Manneken Pis- intersection of Rue de l'Étuve (Stoofstraat) and Rue du Chêne (Eikstraat)

Pissing girl– dead end of Impasse de la Fidélité (Getrouwheidsgang)

pissing dog– intersection of Rue des Chartreux (Kartuizersstraat) and Rue du Vieux-Marché (Oude Graanmarkt)

Why of all attractions its beautiful cozy city, the people of Brussels are so proud of it pissing boy- unclear. But still, to stare and be disappointed in person, crowds of tourists come to him.

Palace of the King of Belgium

But this is really worthy and very beautiful sight. To be honest, this palace is also not a permanent residence of the Belgian royal family, but is used only for official receptions.

Palace of the King of Belgium

Everything here is as it should be in a real palace - a luxurious staircase, a front hall with white and gold trim, the Small and Large white halls, in which everything is very elegant and restrained, a hall with tapestries created according to Goya's sketches, an Italian hall with a harp (on which the current queen of Belgium sometimes likes to play this day). The most-most hall is the throne room, with huge columns and some chandeliers that are simply unrealistic in their beauty. But the most unusual is the hall of mirrors. The hall and the hall, at first glance, but the raisins are added to it by the ceiling, made by order of the Queen ... from dark green shells of scarab beetles shimmering in the Sun.

In general, both the royal palace itself and the garden around it are a must-see. attractions in brussels. This place will definitely cause more emotions than the pissing team.

And, attention - the entrance to the Royal Palace is free. Rare, isn't it?

"Belly of Brussels" - a gastronomic paradise

Is in Brussels a small district (actually, this is just one street - Rue des Bouchers), located very close to the Grand Place, in which, one after another, there are dozens of restaurants and cafes with a wide variety of cuisines. There are places where you can order the freshest seafood ( Lobsterhouse), Italian pizzerias, bars with the most delicious Belgian beer (for example, DeliriumPub), restaurants french cuisine (LaVielleporte) - in general, very, very many establishments.

What should you be prepared for when you go to "Belly of Brussels": there are always a lot of people here, therefore there are few free places and you can wait a long time when you are served; This tourist place, so be prepared for the fact that some kind of super-atmosphere and individual approach it will not come to you - it is a stream; In this place a large number of restaurants, respectively, high competition, so the waiters will be very intrusive to invite you (literally drag you by force 🙂) to their establishment.

If you are looking for where to eat in Brussels, and you are not afraid of the inconveniences listed above, then look into this in "Belly of Brussels" definitely worth it - here, despite the hype and a large number of tourists, it is quite inexpensive (there is a set lunch with dish options that does not exceed the cost of 15 euros) and, nevertheless, it really is delicious.

Where to eat in Brussels

In addition to restaurants located in the "Womb of Brussels", there are several more good places, in which it is clearly calmer:

RocksaltChilliPeppers- small restaurant serving good meat (address: 34-36, Rue des Cultes)

Brussels streets

WinesbardesMarolles- an institution with some kind of simply limitless wine list and very cozy atmosphere. (address: Rue Haute 198)

TontonGarby- and this, roughly speaking, is an ordinary sandwich, devoid of any gloss, but very beloved by both locals and tourists. There are places that become iconic due to their simplicity and soulfulness, and Tonton Garby is one of them. Sitting here is not a good idea, but taking a sandwich with you and going on a walk around the city is what you need. (address - 6 Duquesnoy).

MoederLambicFontaina - the place to go for excellent Belgian craft beers. If you are in Brussels, then you should definitely go here - and the atmosphere and the selection of beer here are wonderful.

Belgian chocolate is the most delicious attraction in Brussels

The last thing I would like to talk about is edible business card Belgium - Belgian chocolate. Here it is sold without exaggeration at every turn. You can buy chocolate, you can taste.

Showcase of a chocolate shop in Brussels

We recommend from shops Neuhaus(address: 2, Postweg in Vlezenbeek (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw) - it is quite inexpensive here compared to other places. There is also a wonderful
Pierre Marcolini with a very large selection (address: Place du Grand Sablon) and Mary Chocolatier- this place, for a second, makes chocolate for the Royal Family (address: 73 Royalstreet).

Conclusion

Here he is Brussels- different, beautiful, with big amount interesting places. We told only about some of them, what we ourselves managed to see, but there is much, much more: a comics museum, museums of beer, lace, military equipment, a colorful museum of Oriental art, a large number of the cutest monuments illustrating our everyday life .

Do not listen to anyone who calls this city faceless, it has a bright personality, its own atmosphere and it is worth coming here.

Brussels always turned out casually, on a tangent. A quick look at the main sights of Brussels: the Grand Place, Mannequin Pis, the Royal Palace, the Church of Saints Michael and Gudula, Belgian waffles, chocolate, cherry beer, lunch with a saucepan of mussels - and further: in, Bruges, Antwerp, ...

For the first time, the Grand Place blew me away. Indeed, this is the first attraction of Brussels, in this city (and, perhaps, in the whole of Europe) nothing compares to it.

Then there were two or three more such passages through Brussels. Grand Place was still delightful, but dissatisfaction settled in her soul. I saw beautiful houses in the Flemish style interspersed with modern glass-concrete buildings, well-groomed parks, representative churches. I wanted to master this space, to be an idle reveler in it, to feel its spirit.
The opportunity finally presented itself. Looking for tickets to, I found a good option with a transfer in Brussels. At 5 pm we arrived in Brussels from Moscow and a day later went to Milan.

Well, great. We took tickets, found a hotel in Brussels for the night. We chose the Hotel Windsor (13, Place Rouppe) - for walking distance to the Grand Place. The hotel is modest, 55 euros per night without breakfast. Does not take prepayment, cancellation up to two days before arrival - no penalty.

At 5 pm our plane landed at international airport Brussels.

Trains run from the airport to the city center (approximately every 15 minutes). Following the signs, we went down to the trains, bought a ticket from the machine.

There are three train stations in the center of Brussels: Brussels Nord (North), Brussels Centrale, Brussels du Midi (South). Another station was indicated on the map - Brussels de la Chapelle, between Centrale and Midi, and it was she who was closest to our hotel. But the train doesn't stop there.

So we got to the last station - Midi. Airport to city center the train is coming about a quarter of an hour.

Evening stroll around the Grand Place

By the time we left the station, it was already dark. It was raining. From Brussels du Midi, we had to go to Stalingrad Avenue and walk along it to Rupe Square, where our hotel was located.

The beginning of the avenue was not immediately found, we did circle. And the area seemed to us unpleasantly Arab, scary. And somehow there were few people on the streets.

Finally we found a "white" man - local resident with a dog, which put us on the straight highway of the avenue. And along it we have already cheerfully reached the Windsor Hotel.

Our room turned out to be small, but warm and cozy (in Lombardy, we appreciated what a blessing it was - the owner of the hotel severely saved on heating).

We dropped our things and went for a walk around the city. Stalingrad Avenue after Rup Square continued with Midi Street. We followed it.

At first deserted, as we approached the center of the rue du Midi, it became more and more lively.

And now, in the alley above the roofs of the houses, the tower of the Town Hall appeared, and in front there were the buildings of the Stock Exchange and the Church of St. Nicholas.

I didn't even realize it was that close.

There were brightly lit shops with souvenirs, with chocolate (God, what sweets were not there!).

At the chocolate shop

The Grand Place seemed unusually quiet. And it was somehow good - soft, quiet, calm. Illumination of buildings - silver-gold.

Evening Grand-Place

House of the King

In the Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert (they are also called the “umbrella of Brussels”), a few tourists walked around.

Tulips at Hubert Gallery

On the rue de Boucher, nicknamed "the belly of Brussels," forks clinked as some dined at tables outside, but most sat inside the café. Through the windows one could see the open fire on the braziers.

Stained glass windows of the Church of St. Madeleine

On the streets of Brussels in the evening

An impromptu concert was going on in the square with the monument to Burgomaster Charles Buls. Apparently, the professional choir decided to sing for the soul, to the delight of others, and dispersed so much that it gathered a large crowd.

We first looked: people in jackets, on the street, some kind of amateur performance. But after listening to how harmoniously they sing, they decided that with such a repertoire and such voices it is quite possible to perform on a professional stage.

Entrance to the Toone Puppet Theater

In Brussels, there are often drawings on the facades of houses

Map of Brussels with attractions

Our route of the 2nd day on the map:

Brussels, Lower City

The next morning we woke up from the sound of the bell calling respectable parishioners to the service. I looked out the window: two bell towers rose above the roofs, well, not far away.

We soon left the hotel. By the way, we looked at Rup Square in daylight. It turned out to be quite pretty, with a fountain in the center.

Roop Square

Very quickly we found ourselves near the railway tracks, which in this place go along the border of the Lower and Upper cities.

A sharp rise - and we are near Notre Dame de la Chapelle, the 12th-century church in which Pieter Brueghel the Elder is buried (and he lived next door - on rue Haute).

Notre Dame De Chapelle

Before that, we walked through a completely empty city. The church was filled with people, there was a service.

Leaving Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle, we again went down to the Lower City and headed to the center.

Just houses

This is such a fun showcase.

Stumbled upon the remains of an old fortress wall.

Remains of the fortress wall

The city was also deserted. On Sunday morning, it must be assumed, part of the Belgians sits in churches for services, the other sleeps off. In any case, walking through the deserted European capital is a special pleasure.

Morning Brussels

So, going down a narrow street and turning our heads left and right, we suddenly found ourselves in front of the most famous fountain in Brussels - Pissing Boy (Dummy Pis) who, at this early hour, stood in utter solitude. Unusual picture.

Mannequin Pis

When we got to Grand Place, then for a while they were almost alone there. They walked across the deserted square from one house to another, examined. No, it is impossible to get used to beauty. Every time is like the first time.

Leaving the Grand Place

A film crew arrived, began filming something about Houses of the King. Flower growers appeared, began to arrange flower pots.

Film crew in front of the King's House

From the Grand Place, past Exchanges we walked to St. Catherine's Square.

Sculptures on the frieze

Behind the back of the Church of St. Catherine stands Black Tower, left from the fortress wall of the 12th century. The neighboring house (Novotel Brussels hotel) flows around it from three sides.

Black tower (which, in general, is not black)

Church of St. Catherine

On the left of Church of Saint Catherine begins a long narrow square. On one side is the Wood Quay (Quai Au Bois a Bruler), and on the other side is the Brick Quay (Quai Aux Briques). It looks like there used to be a canal here. Now in the center of the square is the metro station Sainte-Catherine.

Side facade of St. Catherine's Church

Pavilions in the center of the square - Sainte-Catherine metro station

The canal square ends with the Anspach fountain with an obelisk, sculptures, crocodiles. I was surprised to learn that the monument was erected in honor of Burgomaster Jules Anspach. Why are crocodiles here?

Fountain-monument to Burgomaster Aspakh

From the square at the end of one of the streets one could see the facade Church of John the Baptist at the Beginage.

Church of John the Baptist on the Beguinage

We went there. Inside the church, we felt completely alone for some time, until we came across two rows of tents set up in the side nave. From the sign it was clear that this was an Afghan refugee camp. We ran all the way to Brussels. And now they live in the church in tents.

Inside the church. Magnificent carved pulpit

Tents inside the church

Afghan refugee camp at the Church of John the Baptist

Two more churches followed: Saint Nicholas And Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudul.

Inside the cathedral

Cathedral decorated with stained glass windows

There were services everywhere and there were a lot of people.

Brussels, Upper City

From cathedral we climbed the steep streets to the Upper Town and very soon found ourselves near Palace of Nations. In the depths of the Rue de la Loie, with a strong approximation of the lens, one could see Triumphal Arch set before Ciftieth Anniversary Park.

In front of the Palace of Nations there is a small pleasant park with sculptures. The branches of the trees are twisted and ruthlessly stretched, so that they stretch along the frame in straight parallel lines.

Palace of Nations

Park between the Palais des Nations and the Royal Palace

Once upon a time, the Russian Tsar Peter and his retinue bathed in one of the fountains of this park. In one of the ravines, a monument was erected to the wonderful Russian Tsar.

Behind the park is a wide Palace Square with royal palace.

Royal Palace

The flag at the Royal Palace is half-mast - enachit, the king is absent. In the absence of the king, tours of the palace are held.

Near the right wing of the Palace is the Museum of Dynasties. Between the palace and the museum there is a passage to the courtyard. There we found summer cafe and a magnolia garden.

patio with magnolia

Behind the Royal Palace is another big square: Royal. In the center of it is an equestrian monument to Gottfried of Bouillon, one of the leaders of the first crusade.

Monument to Gottfried of Bouillon

The rider looks at the Lower City, which is perfectly visible from the square; a steep, wide descent leads to it. Between the Lower and Upper towns on this slope there is a terrace with monumental buildings and a luxurious flower garden - Mount Arts.

Gottfried looks up at the spire of the Town Hall. Between them - Mount Arts

At the very beginning of the descent, on the right, there is a remarkable Art Nouveau building - Old England. Now there is a museum of musical instruments. Visitors are given headphones and when approaching some musical instrument the melody played on this instrument sounds in the headphones.

Museum of Musical Instruments

Behind the horseman's back is a high light temple with a representative portal on columns - Church of St. James on Kudanberg. Secular buildings adjoin it on both sides, so you can’t immediately say that this is a church.

Church of St. James on Kudanberg

Inside, it is trimmed with white stone, light and solemn, without frills. Lots of photos of the royal family. This main church armed forces of Belgium.

Church inside

Photograph of the royal family

The church also houses the genealogical tree of the royal family - a very modest

A little obliquely from it - which consists of two museums: old masters and modern art. Tickets to each museum are separate, cost 8 euros. When buying a ticket at the box office (the box office is general), you need to clarify what you need: “old masters” or “art modern”.

The museum is amazing, lovers of Old Flemish painting will be delighted. Bosch, Memling, Brueghel, Rubens ...

Phantasmagoria Bosch

Brussels is a city built on a swamp

The street in front of the Museum of Fine Arts (rue de la Regens) is closed by a huge Palace of Justice. In the people, he is nicknamed "mammoth". In our time, its facade was covered with scaffolding.

Palace of Justice, or "mammoth"

On the way to the Palace of Justice, we passed a gothic church made of light beige stone - Notre Dame du Sablon, went into a lovely garden Petit Sablon, along the perimeter of which there are sculptures depicting representatives of various crafts.

Notre Dame du Sablon

Petit Sablon Garden

Artisan figurines

In the depths of the garden is a fountain-monument to Egmont and Gorn, fighters for the independence of the Low Countries from Spain, beheaded on the Grand Place.

Poelaert Square in front of the Palace of Justice is a match for the building itself, and, in general, in Belgium, as I understand it, they don’t save on squares and show the “goods” (i.e. palaces and churches) with their faces.

In the center of the square there is a war memorial crowned with a golden crown.

war memorial

And on the edge there is an observation deck from which Brussels, more precisely, the Lower City, is visible at a glance.

Observation deck

Directly in front of us was the bell tower of Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle, a little further - the white spire of the City Hall, and with a strong approximation, the crystal lattice was also visible Atomium.

Town Hall Spire

Atomium in the distance

To the left, another “mammoth, or even a “mastodon” bulged out of the thick of the city - Basilica of the Sacred Heart. When it was built at the beginning of the last century, it was assumed that the church could accommodate all the inhabitants of Brussels. The dome of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart can be reached by lift.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Marveling at lower Brussels, we approached the Palace of Justice.

Palace of Justice

Grandiose building. Everything is gigantic: columns, openings, flights of stairs, statues. You feel like an ant. I thought: maybe all this pomposity is a consequence of the smallness and youth of the state of Belgium. Probably, countries also have a “Napoleon complex”.

Another film crew

From the observation deck, we went down to the Lower City by elevator. There was only time to have lunch, and it was already necessary to move to the airport.

At first we wanted to eat a traditional mussel casserole, but for too long we walked around the city and among the paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts, so we ran into the first cafe we ​​liked and contented ourselves with potatoes with sausages and a mug of beer.

While we were waiting for the order, we unfolded the map - which station should we run to next? Like Gare de Bruxelles Centrale is the closest.

We ate, went to look for the central station. And he ended up not far from the square with the mustachioed burgomaster, behind the high and narrow Church of the Magdalene. There begins a decline, I even thought that this was the entrance to some kind of underground museum. It turned out this Central station hidden underground.

There we spent some time looking for a ticket machine. Finally, tickets were bought, and we went to the airport, soon to soar into the sky and once again look at the suburbs of Brussels from above.

That's all we managed to see in one day in Brussels. The sights of Brussels and the surrounding area will be enough for more than one trip: the following times there are Atomium, Sacré-Coeur (in both cases go upstairs), Mini-Europe, numerous museums and parks.

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The tiny square is located right in the center of Brussels, attracting tourists with powerful trees, a pond with floating birds and a stunning sculpture of a girl. The first time you get into this square, you are overwhelmed by strange sensations: mysterious gothic and friendly birds.

Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis - 61 cm naughty, who glorified not only Brussels, but the whole of Belgium. The kid has a lot of admirers and every day the army of fans is growing relentlessly.

By the way, the baby has a touching life story. More precisely, there are a lot of them, but this one is the most well-known. In general, this story tells about a father who lost his son. After a long search, he found him pissing just in the place where the fountain is now located. The happy father was so moved that he erected this fountain as a token of gratitude to fate for saving his son.

Since then, the boy grants wishes. You just need to touch it, well, then believe.

The boy is popular all over the world. It has become a tradition to give him all kinds of costumes and uniforms. The first costume for Manneken Pis was sent by Maximilian Emmanuel of Bavaria in 1698. A lot of time has passed since then and now the boy's wardrobe consists of 700 suits.

By the way, not far from the boy, a girl is pissing (a pissing girl is a symbol of equality). They are accompanied by a pissing dog. She, according to the plan of her creator - the sculptor Tom Franzen, is a symbol of the unification of different cultures in Brussels.

In general, be careful when visiting the city.

What sights of Brussels did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Atomium

The Atomium is a symbolic model of the iron molecule built for the 1958 World's Fair, right at the time of active research into atomic energy. The Atomium consists of nine spheres with a diameter of 18 meters, interconnected by special pipes. Six of the nine spheres are available for visiting. The Atomium was supposed to be dismantled after the exhibition, but since it became too popular place, it was decided to leave it.

Today, there is a museum here, where you can learn about the past exhibition and, in general, learn a lot about atomic energy. And having risen on the elevator to a height of 122 meters, you can admire the panoramic view of Brussels.

Brussels Airport - largest airport Belgium, located in the nearest suburb of Brussels, the city of Zaventem. More than once it was recognized as the best airport in Europe.

Today, Brussels Airport is able to serve up to 20 million passengers a year. The huge passenger terminal simultaneously employs about 15,000 people serving travelers who can use the services of 209 airlines.

It is Brussels Airport that has become home to Jet Airways, Brussels Airlines and EVA Air, which organize their flights to all parts of Europe, which makes Brussels perhaps the main airport in the region. This Belgian airport has been repeatedly awarded the title best airport Europe.

You can get to the airport by rail, which goes directly under the passenger terminal. You can travel by train to both Brussels and Paris.

Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts is located in Brussels. The exhibits of the museum began to be collected by the Austrian rulers who ruled on the territory of the modern Netherlands. At the end of the 18th century, there was an invasion of French troops, who subsequently began to export various paintings to Paris. Those exhibits that were the most fortunate were open to the public in an exhibition created by Napoleon.

Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Brussels is an exhibition and Entertainment Center dedicated to the all-round development of children. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions and interactive activities designed to help children get to know themselves and others better.

Exhibitions and games organized by the museum help children become more open, tolerant and hospitable towards others. Under the guidance of instructors, children discuss topics such as communication, fear, self-confidence, imagination and others to gain life experience.

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Palace of Justice

Brussels Palace of Justice, which houses the main judicial chamber of Belgium, is one of the main attractions of the city and architectural monument eclectic style. The building is considered the largest structure built in the 19th century.

The Palace of Justice is a huge building, with sides measuring 150 and 160 meters and an area of ​​26,000 square meters, which is larger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The dome, soaring to a height of 104 meters, weighs 24,000 tons. In total, there are 8 courtyards, 27 large and 245 small courtrooms and other premises on the territory of the building. The view of the palace is impressive for its size and serves as an excellent landmark in the city.

The most popular attractions in Brussels with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places for visiting famous places Brussels on our website.

Individual and group

More attractions in Brussels

Amazing Brussels! That is what tourists who came here for the first time call this city. The capital of Belgium can really surprise you, because the architecture of the city harmoniously combines several styles, from the Middle Ages to Art Nouveau.

Among the many sights of Brussels, graffiti in the style of comics are of particular pride. On the walls of houses here you can see illustrations of fascinating stories from the life of famous characters, and then, walking around the square, be sure to taste hot chocolate and Belgian waffles, because this is also a national landmark!

Top attractions in Brussels

For those who are just going to Belgium, consider the TOP of the best attractions that you should definitely see in Brussels.

Historically, Brussels is divided into 2 parts, the upper and lower city. In ancient times, this division was not only territorial, but also class. Artisans and merchants lived in the lower part of the city, while the rich, nobles and representatives of the royal family lived upstairs. Today, this distinction is no longer on the map, but it is in appearance these areas. You can get from one part of the city to another by stone stairs. steep roads, which tell tourists about crossing the border of the area.

The lower city is a web of narrow paved medieval streets, where to this day there are souvenir shops, small shops, cozy cafes and small museums. It is from this part of the city that it is advised to start your an amusing trip experienced guides, because many interesting and unusual sights of Brussels are concentrated here.

The upper part of the city is significantly different from the lower. The streets here are spacious, there are many parks of squares and alleys. This part of Brussels is also famous for its unique churches, museums and magnificent palaces. It is here that the main historical monuments of the country are concentrated. IN Upper city and is now home to the reigning monarch's family. royal residence was built in the XI century and is still used for living.

Today, the upper part of the city looks mostly like many megacities in Europe, however, despite the massive construction of the 50s, a lot of old buildings still remain in this area of ​​the city, which are perfectly preserved and are still in use. This unusual neighborhood of the Middle Ages and modernity makes the city unique in its own way. There are no old and new districts here, and in the center you can see beautiful palaces and major landmarks framed by modern buildings.

The Grand Place is the center of historic Brussels. Huge area, framed by majestic buildings, has a rich history, which is confirmed by the photo with the description. You can get to the square from any corner of the lower city, because all its streets lead here. In the very center of the square there is a magnificent flower bed. This carpet is made from millions of begonias, which create a single multi-colored ornament. It is noteworthy that a flower bed is planted once every 2 years, only in even years. This tradition dates back to 1971. total area The ensemble occupies 1800 sq.m.

Framing the Grand Place are magnificent majestic buildings. Here you can see the House of the Tailor, the House of the Boatman, the Baker, the House of the Star and even the House of the Swan. The Bread House is also located here, which today is commonly called the House of the King. Each of the buildings has its own architectural design, which makes the area unique in terms of mixing styles. This area is recognized beautiful square Europe.

This museum complex is one of the largest in the world, which contains a unique collection of paintings and sculptures of ancient and modern art. During the invasion of Napoleon most of The exposition was confiscated and taken to Paris. It was possible to return the exhibits only after the overthrow of the Emperor. Today, the complex includes several museums, tickets for which must be purchased separately. The exhibition presents works by such great artists as Van Gogh, Rubens, Hals, Rodin, David, etc. The complex is located in close proximity to Royal Palace and includes 6 separate galleries.

Gallery old art represented by canvases of the XIV-XVIII centuries. There are more than 1,000 items here, among which the collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings are of the greatest value. In the Museum of Modern Art, you can admire the paintings of Van Gogh, David and Rodin. The complex also includes the End of the Century Gallery, the Marguerite Museum, the Wirtz Gallery and the Meunier Gallery.

This exhibition is located in the upper part of Brussels and presents the most grandiose architectural structures in Europe in miniature. The park covers an area of ​​24,000 sq.m. A tour of the park will be interesting for both children and adults. Getting to this place, one gets the impression of a full-scale journey through the most beautiful places Europe. Here you will be met by the Eiffel Tower, the famous Big Ben, the Stockholm City Hall and other world-famous attractions. In total, the park has 350 miniatures from 80 cities. Mini Europe Park is not just a collection of miniature buildings, it is a living country where trains run, ferries cross the English Channel and even Vesuvius erupts!

For history buffs, there is a separate corner that will tell you about all countries. European Union separately. Here you can also find out the history of the creation of the union, and which states entered it. Theme park was created by the most famous architects of the country, who recreated each exhibit in great detail.

This magnificent temple of the mid-19th century is located on the outskirts of Brussels in the Muslim quarter. The church is unique architectural style, which today is commonly called neo-Byzantine. It is noteworthy, but this is the only building in this style in the country, which is why thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see the church every year. The high towers and spiers of the temple rise above the rest of the buildings of the quarter, and therefore the church is visible from afar. Today, services are not held in the temple, and the church has become an architectural historical monument. Excursions around the temple are also not carried out and it can only be viewed from the outside, due to the poor condition of the interior.