About Belgium > Main sights

THE GRAND'PLACE OF BRUSSELS

The Grand Place of Brussels dates back to the 12th century and is the principal market square. After being bombarded in 1695 by the troops of Louis XIV of France, it was rebuilt by the townspeople in less than four years. The Guild Houses in the square are built in the Italian baroque style, with ornate decorations which reveal the imagination of local architects. Among the most notable buildings are the baroque House of the Dukes of Brabant, the King’s House and the Gothic City Hall. Close to the Grand Place is a jumble of streets and passages forming the “ilot sacré,” where street musicians and vendors of souvenirs provide a noisy and colorful atmosphere. The Manneken-Pis is the famous 17th century bronze statuette of Brussels oldest citizen, 150 meters behind City Hall.
(Text by "TIB")

THE BATTLEFIELD OF WATERLOO

Visitors are invited to walk along the historic route described by Victor Hugo and visit the impressive attractions: the Wax Museum, the Lion’s Hill, the Visitor’s Center, the Waterloo's Battlefield Panorama. There are shows re-enacting the various stages of the fighting. In Waterloo itself, the visitor will be able to see the Wellington Museum, and in Vieux Genappe nearby, the Napoleon Headquarters. Every five years, there is a fabulous reconstitution bringing together thousands of soldiers in period costume at the very scene of the battle. An event in itself !

THE ROMANTIC CANALS OF BRUGES

Bruges is one of the most romantic cities in the world! The feudal architecture was preserved to offer to the visitors unspoilt, genuine surroundings. Visitors will admire the masterpiece of the Flemish Primitives in the Memling & Groeningue museum, make the acquaintance of the Dukes of Burgundy in the Gruuthuse Palace or at the Church of Our Lady, and listen to the belfry’s chimes or cruise quietly along the picturesque canals. Bruges is a city to savor, a perfect place to strolling and shopping. Bruges is special: its traditions are alive, it radiates charm, and its quietness is blissful.
(Text by “Dienst voor toerisme Brugge”)

THE SCENIC VALLEY OF THE MEUSE RIVER

Namur, capital of the Walloon region, is located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, and is dominated by its impressive citadel. It is called “the door of the Ardennes” and offers a varied landscape, with hills and rocky terrain, wild rivers, forests and stone houses. Along the Meuse river, visitors can stop at Annevoie to admire the château and one of the largest rose gardens in the world. Then the city of Dinant appears, with its bulbous church tower and the impressive Bayard Rock. From there, it is easy to travel along the river Lesse by canoe or take a larger boat for a romantic cruise on the Meuse.

DURBUY, THE SMALLEST CITY IN THE WORLD

Durbuy, the most typical village of the Ardennes is full of flowers during the summertime. It is located in the middle of a beautiful region made of forests, caves and hilly landscape. Each village has its own castle, giving visitors the impression that they are back in the past. The grottoes of Han are the largest in Europe. The feudal castle of Lavaux hosts a hunting, falconry and natural museum; St. Michel’s furnace is an impressive complex of reconstituted attractions from the “good old times”: blast furnace, cast iron tools, rebuilt country village.

THE CITY OF RUBENS : ANTWERP

Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium, and the 4th sea haven in the world. It is famous as the world capital of diamonds, and as the city of P.P.Rubens. The famous painter left many of his masterpieces in various churches of the city, and his residence and workshop can be visited, as well as many other museums in the city dedicated to modern sculpture, fine arts, the printing industry by Plantin & Moretus, folklore, or marine life. The gothic cathedral and Groen Square are perfect illustrations of Belgium’s rich way of life during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

OTHER SITES, PROVINCE BY PROVINCE

Province of Liege: Castle of Modave, prehistoric site of Ramioul, Curtius Museum, Modern Art Museum, Arms museum, Palace of Prince-Bishop, St. Barthelemy Church in Liège, coal mines site of Blegny, crystal factory in the Abbey of Val-St-Lambert, Metternich’s Castle of Reinhardstein, Spa sources, race tracks, The Cascade of Coo, the caves of Remouchamps and Comblain, Milling and Bakery Museum of Harzé.

Province of Luxemburg: Grottoes of Hotton , Museum of Lace in Marche, feudal ruins of La Roche, Battle of the Bulge museums and itinerary from Marche to Bastogne, the American Memorial, Euro Space Center of Transinne, fortified castle of Bouillon.

Province of Namur: Castle-farm of Falaen, Castle of Veves, caves of Hastières, Dinant, Rochefort, Han, Couvin, abbeys of Maredsous and Floreffe, prehistoric site of Goyet, Steam Train Museum of Treignes.

Province of Hainaut: Handicraft museum and shops in Rance and Bouffioulx, Royal Museum of Mariemont, coal mine museum of La Louvière, Tournai – first capital of the Franks, Beloeil Estate & Castle, Celtic archaeological site of Aubechies, Belfry of Mons, the hydraulic boatlifts on the Canal du Centre, Castles of Seneffe and Ecaussines, industrial archaeological site of Grand Hornu.

Province of Walloon Brabant: Collegial church of Nivelles, Cistercian Abbey of Villers-la-Ville, neolithic caves of Folx-les-Caves, Walibi Recreational Park.

Brussels Region: Basilica of Koekelberg, Brupark recreational area with Mini-Europe and the Atomium, Autoworld Vintage Car Museum, Royal Museum of Art & History, Air Museum, Toone Puppet’s Theater, Tram Museum.

Province of Flemish Brabant: Botanical Garden of Meise, Gothic City Hall of Leuven, Beguinages of Leuven and Diest, African Museum of Tervueren.

Province of Eastern Flanders: Castle of Laarne, Gothic City Hall of Oudenaarde, boat trip on the Leie River, Feudal Castle on the Flander’s Counts in Ghent, French, English and Japanese gardens in Maldegem.

Province of Western Flanders: Flax and Agricultural Museums of Kortrijk, the Mercator training ship in Ostend, World War I sites in Ieper, Natural reserve Zwin in Knokke, the romantic city of Damme.

Province of Antwerp: Beguinage and astronomical tower of Lier, Zoos of Antwerp and Muizen, St. Rombold’s Cathedral and Tower in Mechelen.

Province of Limburg: Genever and fashion museums in Hasselt, Bokrijk Recreational Park with reconstructed Flemish village, Tongeren – the oldest town of Belgium, Castle of Alden-Biesen.