Officially bilingual (Flemish and French), Brussels is a city that offers undeniable historical and cultural riches. Visitors who take the time to explore it will be amply rewarded, for this city is filled with pleasant surprises. Around Brussels Southeast of Brussels is the beautiful Forest of Soignes, a 4,300-ha (10,625-acre) public natural site. It constitutes the last remains of the vast forest that lay to the west of the Ardennes. The Groenendaal hamlet, with its 14th-century Augustine monastery, occupies a valley nestled in the heart of the forest. The battlefield of Waterloo, a small village south of Brussels, is now a vast, cultivated land. East of the capital is Louvain, founded almost 1,000 years ago, which features many buildings of incredible architectural beauty, such as its 15th-century town hall.
Heading up Rue Neuve, the most commercial pedestrian street in the city, you will reach Place des Martyrs. From there...
The symbol of Brussels, the famous Grand-Place features exceptional Gothic structures. Dating back to the 15th century, the...
Auteur: Air Transat
Heading up Rue Neuve, the most commercial pedestrian street in the city, you will reach Place des Martyrs. From there, narrow Rue du Persil and Rue des Marais will lead you to the Musée de la Bande Dessinée (a museum dedicated to comic strips), at 20 Rue des Sables. Open since 1989, this establishment honours the greatest comic artists of the world, many of whom are from Belgium.
A statuette measuring a little less than 60 cm (24 in), the very famous Manneken-Pis is another great symbol of the city. Also known as "Petit Julien," he has been relieving himself at the corner of Rue de l'Étuve and Rue du Chêne since 1619.
The symbol of Brussels, the famous Grand-Place features exceptional Gothic structures. Dating back to the 15th century, the town hall has several sumptuous rooms and a facade that is decorated with some of the most stunning works of Gothic flamboyance.