We Visit 8 Places Of Interest In Brussels
In the center of Belgium is its capital, which is also the administrative headquarters of the European Union. It was founded around the year 1000, but today it is a modern city that has managed to maintain its roots. If you are thinking of visiting it, keep reading, we are going to show you some places of interest in Brussels that you should not miss.
1. Places of interest in Brussels: Grand Place
It is the most famous, photographed and lively site, ideal for architecture lovers. It is the historical and geographical heart of Brussels. It has its roots in the origins of the city, although it had to be rebuilt after being bombed by the French army at the end of the 17th century.
In the Grand Place we can find buildings as important as the Hotel de Ville, the only one that was saved from the attack; It dates from 1459 and has a tower of almost 100 meters. You can also admire the Casa del Rey (former residence of the monarchs) or Le Pigeon (where Victor Hugo stayed).
2. Manneken Pis
It is one of the symbols of Brussels, although it can go unnoticed due to its small size (the statue is only 50 cm). It represents a naked boy urinating on a pile of a fountain.
3. Palace of the Fiftieth Anniversary
In it you can see an impressive triumphal arch with its bronze chariot, similar to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. It was built to celebrate 50 years of the birth of Belgium as an independent nation.
It is to the east of the park of the same name and houses 3 museums: the Fiftieth Anniversary, Military History and Autoworld (with cars from different periods). It is close to the buildings of the European Union.
4. Palace of Justice
Construction was completed in 1883 and at that time it was the largest building in the world. It is 26,000 m² in size and 104 meters high. To clear the site on which it was to be built, no less than 3,000 houses had to be demolished.
It is the seat of the Belgian Courts of Justice and is located in Poelaert Square. The only non-original thing in the whole set is the dome, which was destroyed by the Nazis at the end of the Second World War. Access is free.
5. Brussels Park
It was the hunting ground of the Dukes of Brabant (hence its name), until in 1770 it was renovated and decorated with fountains, walks and sculptures. Nowadays it is one of the recreational places of the city. It is bounded by the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Nation and by Ducale and Royal streets.
6. Saint Hubert Galleries
Another of the places of interest in Brussels. They were the first commercial galleries in Europe (they were built in 1847) and they continue to maintain the elegance that characterized them from day one. They are about 200 meters long and covered by a glass dome.
They are divided into three areas: the Queen, the King and the Princes. In addition to shops, we can find restaurants, cafes, a cinema and a theater. The galleries can be accessed from the streets du Marché aux Herbes, des Bouchers and de l’Ecuyer.
7. Atomium
It was designed for the 1958 World’s Fair and is a 102 meter tall giant atom, a symbol of the city that nonetheless received criticism at the time of its construction.
It is made up of 9 spheres of 18 meters in diameter each, connected to each other by escalators. Each one has exhibits and the highest is a restaurant.
8. Museum of Musical Instruments
If you like music, this is one of the places of interest in Brussels that you cannot miss. It is housed in an art nouveau building and houses nearly 7,000 instruments from all eras. The visit is interactive and we can hear how each one sounds thanks to headphones.
At the end of the tour, we recommend that you go up to the tenth floor, where there is a terrace with beautiful panoramic views of the historic center of the city.
